In Her Eyes

by parry

Sir Auron has always been quiet and kept his true emotions inside, wrapped up in his deep red coat. However, when his coat is tossed aside and he finally admits to caring about a certain young Al Bhed girl perhaps to much, will she meet his eyes?

15. The Truth

I promise to put Lulu and Wakka fluff in here! I tried with this chapter, but it's so difficult because it's in Auron's point of view! I support Lulu and Wakka as much as the next person, but it's kinda hard! I promise, though, I'll put it in. I'll sneak it in the story! I love that pairing! I want to put it in, but it's weird. I don't want Auron to be spying on them or anything o.O I'm also struggling to put more Aurikku in there, but it's hard to find the right time. But, I think the next chapter will have the fluff! .

Alright. Here comes my apology: Sorry for the late update!! I haven't really had a lot of time to write because of stuff involving the family...=/ But oh well. Hope you guys like it! Remember to hit the review button at the bottom!

THE TRUTH – Chapter 15

I was surprised that she was one of the first to fall asleep. Her goggles still tied tightly around her head, she had steadily fallen to her side and slept peacefully. It was ironic...how in her sleep, she slept near Wakka, and yet she was deathly afraid of him. Not afraid, more or so intimidated and angry with him.

Tidus was the next to nod himself to sleep before offering me a quick grin and after our little "argument." I nodded and smirked, giving him permission almost. He fell back onto his side and gazed at the few stars that dotted the sky, his hands settled behind his neck.

"You know," Tidus said quietly, "I could feel him."

"Who?" I mused, a raspy chuckle coming from my throat.

"My old man," Tidus replied. "I think...I think he was trying to tell me he wanted to go home, Auron."

Now I was curious. I tilted my head to the side, glancing at him sideways. "And what else did he tell you?"

"Nothing concerning Yuna's whereabouts, that's what I can say." Tidus almost snapped back at me. "I know he brought us here for some reason. But why would he separate us from Yuna?"

"A question that has plagued my mind since then." I said gruffly, "Even in my travels with Braska...I have never encountered such a place."

Tidus sighed. "This reminds me of that place Rikku was telling me about."

Quickly, my head snapped in Tidus' direction. "Place?"

"Well, Rikku said it was a secret. When I first met her on the Al Bhed ship thingy, she told me all about her people—after I convinced her I wasn't a Yevonite...I didn't even know what that was at the time..."

"Keep going." I said quietly.

Tidus rolled his eyes and stiffened a bit. "Geez, can't you hold your horses for one second?"

"What about this place?"

The boy only glared at me, silencing any further protests of mine. "Well, just that the Al Bhed lived in a place where the sun beat on their backs...where they built this amazing place called 'Home', I think it was."

Of course!

Braska often told me the stories of the Al Bhed, mainly because of his memory of his wife and her heritage. He consistently spoke of the Sanubia Desert, a desert wasteland that only the Al Bhed knew how to get through. Of course! Why didn't I realize it before? This...this was...

"The Sanubia desert." I said hoarsely.

"Huh?" Apparently, Tidus had continued to explain to me of the things Rikku had told him. He blinked and turned his attention to me, but I didn't return his gaze. Instead, I stared at Rikku intently and wondered if maybe she would be as kind enough to lead us to her Home. Perhaps...if I could persuade her...

"Go to sleep." I murmured, "Tomorrow, we travel nonstop."

Tidus frowned and threw himself onto his side, wrapping his arms around him in effort to keep warm. I glanced at the boy and smirked, making an effort to remove my coat.

"Take this." I offered him my coat, but he refused, stubborn as he always was. I frowned and pushed myself up and stood over the Blitzball player, a look of offense glowering from his face. "You will freeze."

He didn't make any effort to move, he only lay there mulishly, his brows furrowing as he concentrated fully on the pebbled of sand that he lay on instead of myself. I only heaved a sigh and dropped the coat on Tidus, then moved back to my place by the fire.

Kimahri chuckled.

"What is it, my friend?"

"Tidus still act very young."

I grunted. "Like his father."

"I heard that!" Tidus snapped back, throwing the coat off of him.

It lay there, forgotten in the sand, as I made no move to pick it up.

NEXT SCENE...

The hours passed until Lulu and I remained the only ones awake. When I turned my head to glance at Tidus—perhaps out of habit—I was surprised to see that he had wrapped himself in my coat, his breath slow and labored. It was the battle. He must've been exhausted still.

I glanced languidly over Rikku's form, my brow furrowing. Earlier on into the evening, I caught her staring at me fixedly, her eyes wide with horror, it seemed. Like she was afraid of me. I didn't understand it, but as soon as my eye met her spiraling ones, she immediately turned away and lost herself in the flames. It seemed everyone was staring into the fire just to avoid any other contact. Rikku was staring at me with awe, with horror, with fear.

"Sir Auron?"

Lulu had been watching me, reading my expression all the while as I gazed absentmindedly at the fire. I glanced at her and frowned, then motioned to Rikku.

"She's been staring at me with almost..." I started, but couldn't finish. I breathed deep and closed my eye briefly.

Lulu tilted her head to the side. "With a look of sympathy?"

I grunted. Yes, that was the word. Sympathy.

"I don't blame her."

I quickly turned to Lulu, a questioning look in my eye. "What do you mean?"

Lulu only smiled. "You are—to her—the fallen warrior, the man with the most tragic past. I think she is awed by you, mostly."

"Awed..." I whispered. "Awed by what? A mysterious past...hmph. A past no one would be proud of. A reputation built upon the death of my comrades. A heart too cold to love."

Lulu only smiled once more, her hand touching my shoulder, "But that is where you are wrong, Sir Auron. She believes you can love. As for myself..." I heard her breath a sigh as she tucked her moogle gently in her arms. I glanced at her nonchalantly and found the mage was staring once again at the Blitzball player.

"Too many starless nights." I breathed.

NEXT SCENE...

At the front of the group, I moved swiftly, the Ronso being the only one to keep up with my strides. I pressed onward in the desert, my sword clenched tightly in my hand. The wound I had gained from the previous battle still throbbed mercilessly, a shudder running up and down my spine with each forced step. No longer did I move with a limp, but I did bite my tongue until I was certain I was tasting my own blood. Still, I made no move to rest.

Our party remained safe throughout the night, with the exception of one wandering fiend who saved me the effort and aimlessly moved away. Come dawn, I woke the others and we were on our way once more. Tidus commented on the lack of battles, and Rikku said something along the lines of the desert being such great housing conditions.

I threw a questioning glance at Lulu, who only raised her eyebrows.

"I will speak with her," Lulu whispered to me.

"She knows which direction the Al Bhed lie in." I said quickly, "We must get out of this desert and find Yuna before anything happens to her. I...I couldn't live with myself if something happens to her..."

Lulu offered a weak smile. "Things will turn out for the best. However, don't expect Rikku to be so...willing to inform Wakka of the Al Bhed's whereabouts."

"She cannot let us wander around like this." I said through gritted teeth. "Speak with her. Please."

We stalked through the sea of sand, Rikku seldom pointing out that we should "maybe" turn a little towards the left. Occasionally, I felt her presence behind me. I almost sensed her approaching me. I could imagine her leaning forward to ask me something. But then, just as the hair on my neck began to prickle with annoyed anticipation, I felt her drift back and soon heard her talking with Tidus.

I noticed she was unable to look at me in the eye. Ever since we had found her, she was incapable of staring at me. I never caught her own spiraling pupils. I only watched her from a distance. The one exception was the previous night where she would stare at me intently...that look of sympathy.

It was almost as if she were ignoring me.

But...what horrified me was that I was concerned that she was ignoring me.

Finally, I took a deep breath and came to a smart halt, closing my good eye and waiting for Kimahri to question my resolve.

"Why do we stop?"

Ahh. I was right.

"Rikku." I said darkly. "Come here."

I heard her squeak out of desperation, and I could almost imagine her throwing a pleading look at Tidus, the curiosity of it all just perplexing her. She approached my slowly and cautiously, her hands folded behind her back. I heard Lulu sigh in disappointment, but this wasn't for games.

Rikku stood before me, barely able to keep still.

"Yessir?"

"Don't." I said, for reasons I didn't even know. "Where is Yuna, Rikku?" It was more like a demand then a question. I was treating her harshly, just as I had before. When Rikku didn't reply, I frowned. "Where is she, Rikku?" I said a little more angrily then intended.

"I...I don't know. I think...she could be...but—"

"In which direction is the Al Bhed sanctuary?" I cut her off quickly, taking one stride forward. I heard Kimahri chuckle lightly as Rikku squealed and leaped back, her heart pounding.

"I—uh—dunno..."

"Rikku." I said darkly. "I am not going to die out here searching for a Summoner that I swore to my Lord I would protect. I will not stand by helpless in a hellhole while Lady Yuna remains somewhere out of my knowledge. Where is the Al Bhed sanctuary?" I repeated, my eye narrowing.

Rikku breathed deeply, and I saw her fighting an inner battle. Her eyes began to swell with tears, and she absentmindedly reached for the goggles that dangled around her neck.

"Don't." I said quietly. "Don't put those on."

Everyone was staring at me in horror. I was vaguely aware.

"The...Al Bhed..."

Wakka stiffened. "The Al Bhed live here? In a desert? That's because they have no respect for the teachings, ya!"

"Wakka..." Lulu whispered. "Please..."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lulu put her hand on his shoulder—not like she often did with me. Something in her crimson eyes, her stoic stance, she held him almost...lovingly. I saw Wakka's eye widen as she caressed him gently and gazed at him. Wakka sighed and folded his arms across his chest, silenced by Lulu's one action.

"This place...is the Sanubia Desert...home to the Al Bhed..." Rikku choked out. "But...if anyone ever found out..."

Wakka kept his peace, to my surprise and let her go on.

"No one will." I said quickly, "I will be sure of that."

"Which way?"

NEXT SCENE...

Rikku giggled and said, "Home is just over this sand dune right—"

She had stopped mid-sentence, her right hand coming up to her chest, clutching her heart. She wavered from side to side unsteadily, looking as though she were ready to collapse at any second. Lulu frowned and called out, "Rikku? Is everything alright?"

I frowned and marched up the dune, my sword poised as if prepared for battle. A breathed in sharply and widened my eye. This was where Yuna was?

Horrifying. The view that lay before me was nothing short of the words "blood bath." Thousands upon thousands of fiends were rampaging throughout the Al Bhed Home, destroying machina, Al Bheds, tearing about everything in sight.

Rikku turned around, the tears springing to her eyes. She didn't fight them, however. She only shook her head back and forth slowly, her wisps of blonde hair settling over her face.

"Rikku?" Tidus asked, making a move towards her.

Rikku fell to her knees, sobbing silently. The girl reached up to tug at her hair and moaned miserably, her whole form shaking. Immediately, Tidus came to her aid, patting her back and kneeling over her. "Rikku...?"

"Lulu. Yuna is in there, possibly," I said over my shoulder. "Look at this mess..."

Lulu gasped and let her moogle fall to the ground, her hands coming up to cover her mouth. "Who...who would do such a thing?"

She might be joining you in death sooner than you think...

Immediately it struck me. It was Seymour's doing. The Guado knew Rikku was Al Bhed, and Seymour certainly didn't hide his distaste for her. They...they planned this. He was exacting his revenge through his willing people.

"This is the work of the Guado." I said darkly, motioning towards the ongoing rampage.

"Auron, we gotta go in there!!!" Tidus said, "Yuna's there somewhere and Yevon knows what'll happen if she stays locked up in there!!"

I glanced at Wakka and raised an eyebrow, silently challenging his will for Yuna and distaste for the Al Bhed.

Wakka frowned and hesitated, but soon nodded and clenched his fists. "Let's go!"

NEXT SCENE...

I cursed loudly and threw my sword to the ground, "Dammit!!!" I roared, "Where is Yuna?!" She wasn't there...in the Summoner's Sanctum...

Lulu was just as distressed, her hands cupping her cheeks as she glanced around frantically, "Yevon...she could be anywhere..."

I noticed Wakka staring at the flaming walls in horror. "This...this place is history..."

Rikku sniffed, catching my immediate attention. She was crying again. She had been crying since we had witnessed the death of one of her close friends and became aqainted with Cid, her father.

"You're right..." Rikku breathed, "You're right, Wakka..."

I glared at Wakka, who bowed his head in shame.

"Rikku, I—"

"We Al Bhed, we...we weren't always like this," Rikku choked out, "Sin destroyed the island where we all used to live...and after that, we scattered to every corner of Spira...separated..."

I had heard this story once too many times.

"But then, my dad brought the Al Bhed together again. Here, on Bikanel Island. He gave us all hope and the strength that we needed. Here, we overcame the prejudice and believed if we could all just put our minds together and work hard, we would have this new home. Everything was so perfect...but now..." Rikku blinked, brushing away her tears, "Why...why did things have to turn out this way?"

I heard a faint growl come from behind me.

I gasped as Tidus, who had been standing beside me, flew through the air and smashed into the ground, his nose bleeding excessively. Unsheathing my sword, I spun on my heel and let my left sleeve drop at the same time. I could've cursed again, but I bit my tongue. More beasts...more fiends!

"Damn you, Guado!" I heard Wakka roar as a blitzball flew past my shoulder, "Why do you gotta resort to this, huh?"

It smashed into the beast's head, a ghastly snap reaching my ears. Lulu quickly stepped forward and cast a spell—which one I didn't know—as I quickly thrust my sword into the creature's abdomen. It fell to its knees after an unearthly squelch, dead. We didn't get much time to recuperate, however, as another fiend just like its predecessor launched from out of the darkness, a deafening roar escaping his throat. Tidus soon rejoined the battle and attacked, slashing at the monster's sides and nimbly dodging his swinging arms with ease. The fiend was too quick for me. I decided to stray back and chance a glance at Rikku, who I was surprised to see her staring at me with awe. Her eyes were narrowed in a form of some sort of desperation and...sympathy.

She pitied me.

But...why?

"Auron!" Lulu cried out, "Quickly, go down the stairs! We will soon follow!"

"Where is Yuna?" I whispered to Rikku immediately.

She motioned for me to follow her down the stairs, and I did. We flew down the stairs in a hurry, however we didn't get far. As soon as we reached the half-way point, a flying came out of no where and screeched. Rikku screamed and turned to me, burying her face into my chest. I shielded her and held her for one moment, kissing her crown.

"I'll protect you forever," I whispered faintly.

I then turned back to the beast after gently pushing Rikku away, bringing up my blade to defend myself against the creature's claw in a matter of seconds. It's claws were wrapped around my blade, squeezing tightly. I pulled back momentarily and suddenly shoved my blade back out, catching the fiend off-guard.

"Stand back!" Rikku commanded.

I obeyed silently, stepping back and joining Rikku's side once more.

She threw out a bomb again, except when it exploded, a massive amount of gas and steam erupted from it's exploding point, rendering me helpless as well as the fiend.

"Auron! Hurry up! We gotta move!" I heard Rikku say desperately.

"I can't see." I said simply. I reached out in front of me as I felt the tears suddenly begin to swell up in both eyes. With my other hand, I gently brushed over my eye. I felt Rikku's hands grab my own.

"Here," She said, "I'll protect you,"

I smiled as she led me down the stairs, my vision slowly recovering.

"Auron! Rikku! Wait!"

I heard Tidus cry out and I spun around instinctively. "Rikku, where are they?"

"They're coming," Rikku said, tugging on my arm slightly, "I see them. Lulu's handling it, promise."

Soon, I could see just as well as before and Tidus, Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri had joined us once more.

We all stood there on the stairs for a breif moment, our faces blank and expressionless. I could see the signs of fatigue in every corner of their mouths. They were tired of this journey, as I was. We were being put through too many trials. This was more then the Summoner's Pilgrimage. This was a damned chase.

"Rikku," Lulu said quietly, "What is the Summoner's Sanctum?"

Rikku glanced around nervously, her hands twisting the fabric of her shirt. "It's...where we keep the Summoners after we—"

"You kidnap 'em," Wakka stated simply.

Rikku nodded. "I know...I know that's it's against the teachings of Yevon, and that we're defying a lot of rules, but it's for a good cause! You have to understand and see it through our point of view!"

Wakka heaved a sigh. "I undertand why you're doing this, but don't you think—"

"I don't understand." Tidus said loudly. He was standing beside Lulu, his arms folded across his chest, staring at Rikku as if he were angry with her. We all ceased talking as every eye became glued to Tidus. He...didn't know. "I sure don't get it, Wakka. So, you kidnap them because they might get hurt on their pilgrimage? Don't you think that's being a little overprotective? Summoner's have Guardians, Rikku. If you don't give them a chance, then who's gonna defeat Sin, huh?"

No one answered Tidus' question. Rikku glanced desperately at me, almost as if begging me to say something in response. I only stared intently at the ground, my head bent in shame. He didn't know the outcome of this journey. Tidus chose to become Yuna's lover over the course of the pilgrimage, I knew. He had chosen to become deeply involved with the Summoner, as I did with Braska. Friendship or romance between a Guardian and their Summoner was truly the testing point of the resolve both had chosen. It questioned their paths, almost begged them to turn back and forget their intentions. Yet Braska's friendship with me was not enough to make him change his mind. And if I knew Braska, then Yuna would be the same. Even if Tidus had indeed become her lover, she would still hold her head high and march into Yunalesca's chamber. But what made me wonder...

Who would she choose to be the Final Aeon?

I glanced at Rikku.

Would she...?

No.

"Right?"

Tidus was speaking again, but I didn't have the stomach to listen any more.

"Right?!"

More silence. I could feel Tidus' anger radiating from his quivering form, his hands clenched. I think, deep inside, Tidus knew what the outcome of this journey would be. I think somewhere he had a faint feeling as to what was going on. He was hiding himself from it, though. He was pushing the truth away from him.

"It's quiet. Kimahri go now."

NEXT SCENE...

I wanted to kill the boy.

Pacce, his name was. The fool had run up to us curiously, asking us what the word "sacrificed" meant. I wanted to throw him across the room for his childish ignorance and his curious demeanor. I wanted to make him go away. I wanted to make Tidus believe that everything would be alright in the end.

But it wasn't. Just...another lie. The tale of the Summoner's journey was always a sad one, and many stories spawned from the loss and grief as a result. And my own was no exception.

Tidus turned to face Rikku with a look of annoyance. "What is it, Rikku? The Al Bhed can't trust the Guardians to protect their Summoner, is that it? Well, aren't you a Guardian? So shouldn't the Al Bhed feel safe knowing that Yuna can now make it to Zanarkand cause we're not good enough as Guardians? The Al Bhed have no right to stop the pilgrimage!"

Jecht, if you could hear your son, forgive him.

"The Al Bhed need to let the Summoner's do their duty for Spira! The Guardians can be trusted to take their Summoner to Zanarkand, right?"

Forgive him, Jecht. Forgive his ignorance.

"Right?"

Every single word he spoke tore a hole in my heart.

"Tidus..." I said hoarsely.

"The pilgrimages have to stop!" Rikku shouted at Tidus. "Don't you understand?"

Lulu gasped, "No, Rikku—"

"If we don't stop the pilgrimage, then the Summoner's will make it to Zanarkand!" Rikku exclaimed, "Don't you know? If Yuna makes it to Zanarkand, she'll die!"

Tidus blinked, his mouth hanging open slightly. Rikku was trembling now, the tears falling from her face to the ground. But still, she continued. Still, she kept talking. Still, she pushed the dagger deeper and deeper into his wound.

"You know, don't you?" She said hoarsely, "Summoners journey to Zanarkand for the Final Aeon! You knew, right? The Final Aeon is the only thing that can beat Sin...but in turn, it will also kill Yunie! Don't you understand? Even if Sin dies, Yunie will, too!"

She fell to her knees in a sobbing mass of tears and sweat.

Tidus was slowly wavering from side to side, staring at each of us in question. I avoided his eye, and stared down. This was too much. I didn't expect him to find out this way. But then again, how did I expect him to discover the truth? How had I expected it to be like? For him to be understanding and completely accept that fact that Yuna was to die at the hands of one of her own Guardian?

"Why didn't I know?" Tidus cried. He, too, fell to his knees and gripped Rikku's shoulders, shaking her violently. "Tell me why!! Why were you hiding it from me! Why didn't I know!"

Kimahri made a move to stop Tidus from shaking Rikku, but I put up a hand. "Don't. Let him accept this."

Wakka mumbled something under his breath, as did Lulu.

"It was...just so hard to say..."

Tidus let out a strangled sob and fell to the floor, shaking and crying. "How could you? How could you take her to Zanarkand? How could you do that to Yuna? Don't you care?"

Silence.

"Don't you care?!"

"Don't you dare tell me I don't care." I hissed venomously. "Yuna's decision to journey to Zanarkand was her own, as was Braska's."

Lulu nodded. "We tried...but she follows her heart..."

"She knew what she was getting into," Wakka said, "She knew what was coming, but she's strong."

A sudden flash of light caught my eye. Dona and Isaaru, the two Summoners we had encountered one before, were fighting against a wendigo and had resorted to Summoning Valefor.

Tidus' face went blank as he shaking ceased for a moment. He froze, almost as if he were stuck in time. Rikku stood up slowly and ran towards me, holding me. I protected her, my hand traveling along the crevasses along her back. "We can't let this happen to Yuna..." She whispered.

"I can't let her die! I'll find her myself!"

"Hu desa! Ku, ku, ku!!!"

"There's no time," I said quickly, "Rikku, show us the way out!"