Disclaimer: I own, um, let's see here now. Oh I know! I own nothing.
One more thing, in honor of you I have added a small part to this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Tell you what, I think I'll just dedicate this whole chapter to you!
A/n: Look! Two updates in less then a week. I hope this makes up for the long wait from before. I had a small case of writers block. But now I'm back and have a better idea of what I want to do with this.
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Rikku slept as Phoenix flew. The fight had taken a lot out of her and the loss of blood didn't help. Granted lying on Auron's back helped some, it could not restore her completely. She would need medical healing and rest.
Auron, sensing that she had passed out, relaxed. He stayed steady so as not to allow her to fall. Ahead of him he could see the cavern that led out to the entrance of the mountains. He slowed his flight in order to fly in and land safely.
Ronso came out to see the spectacle. They had never seen anything like the firebird before. Mother's held back children that tried to run up and get a closer look. They had just begun to repopulate, no one wanted to take any chances now.
"Elder Kimahri comes." Someone said as he walked up to see what was going on.
The firebird screeched but did not move. He knew he could trust the Ronso coming closer. Silently, but very cautiously he moved in to see what it was they were dealing with.
Those watching held their breath waiting for the bird to attack their leader. Kimahri's eyes widened when he saw the injured form lying across his back. "Kimahri sees small Al Bhed. Rikku is friend of Ronso." He said to those around him.
Auron lowered his head allowing the leader to slid Rikku off. He could feel something wet on his back as she was moved. Her injury had reopened. He turned his head to see his back and then to the small blond now being held in Kimahri's strong arms. Knowing she was in good hands he flapped his wings and flew up to disappear.
When he was gone Rikku shifted slightly and whispered a name out. Kimahri's sensitive ears picked up on it though. "Auron?"
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"You just missed her sir. Two days ago she purchased a ticket for the hovercraft. The driver said that a tonberry was attacking people on the other side of the calm lands and she jumped off to fight it. Nobody has seen her since." A man explained to the red haired man who was asking about the Lady Rikku.
"Thank you for your help. Was there anything else that happened?"
"Well the only other thing was the pyerflies that flew around. They seemed as if they were heading to the farplane."
"Thanks again." Luzzu said as he walked away. If the pyerflies looked like they were heading to the farplane then she must have been there. Lulu had explained to him about her being a summoner. She must have won against the fiend and sent those who had died.
He rented himself a hover and crossed to where Clasko had his chocobo stables. If he was lucky, maybe he could rent one and cross the Gagazet Mountain to catch up with Rikku.
--
Kimahri did not move from Rikku's side for two days. A Ronso woman would come in twice a day to change her bandages, but she said that Rikku would have to wake on her own. She had lost a lot of blood from the stab wound on her side.
He waited eagerly for her to recover. He had questions that only she could answer. He thought about the firebird he had seen bring her to him. He had never seen anything like it before. The way it had disappeared made him think it was an aeon, but they were not known to act on their own. They aeons of the past only followed what commands they were given. When Rikku was found, she was in no shape to give any commands.
A stirring from his left brought him out of his thoughts. Rikku was starting to wake up. "Auron?" She whispered through parched lips.
"Auron is in farplane. You in home of Ronso." Kimahri informed her.
Rikku slammed open her eyes and stared at her blue friend. The last thing she remembered was climbing onto Auron's back. Just how did she get here?
"Rikku is friend. Kimahri take care of friend. Fire bird brought Rikku to Ronso." He explained as he saw her panicked face.
Rikku relaxed and pulled herself into a comfortable sitting position. "Oh okay, I guess." She rasped. Not having anything to eat or drink for few days took its toll on her. "I'm kinda thirsty. Do you have anything to drink?"
The blue beast nodded and stood to leave. Rikku took the chance to ask Auron about what had happened.
"How did I get here? What happened?"
"You passed out shortly after summoning me. I brought you to Gagazet as you have requested."
"Again, I needed someone to take care of me. This makes the third time since I have began this dumb trip! I feel so weak and helpless." Tears stung her eyes, but she did nothing to stop them. "If I can't even stand up to a few random fiends, how can I even think of being able to defeat Yu Yevon by myself?" She held her face in her hands and cried. Even when Kimahri came back with the glass of water she could not stop.
He set it down on the stand next to her bed and took his seat once again. Waiting until she was calm again he spoke. "Rikku hurt. Firebird bring Rikku to Kimahri for help. Where Rikku go by yourself?" He handed her the glass and waited until she finished it before hearing her answer.
"I have to go to Zanarkand. It least that's what I was told. I don't know what I will find there, but I'll know it when I get there.I have become a summoner, and the fayth have asked me to help them." She set the empty glass down in her lap. Unconsciencly she played with it in her nervousness.
"Rikku get hurt by yourself. Rikku needs company."
Thinking he was offering himself to go along she quickly protested. "You can't! You have things here that must be taken care of."
"Rikku right. Kimahri know of someone who can go with young Al Bhed. He came yesterday looking for you." He told her.
"Looking… for me?" She squeaked. "Who is it?"
Instead of answering he stood and opened the door. Nodding to whoever was there, he stood back to allow them entrance.
Needless to say, Rikku was quite shocked to see him. "Luzzu, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"Lulu sent me. She thought you might need my help. You are quite famous so it was not hard to find where you had gone. When Kimahri contacted me about you, I hurried here as fast as I could."
"Kimahri goes now. Have other things to take care of." With that being said, the Ronso left the room. He shut the door behind him to give them some privacy.
"So, um, Luzzu? What else did Lulu tell you?" Rikku asked uncomfortable in this new situation.
"Just that she was worried and to keep an eye on you for trouble. She sends her regards though."
"How are Tidus and Yunie? They weren't too upset at me, were they?" She set the glass back on the table next to her. "You know what, never mind. I'm rather tired. We'll talk later, okay?"
Seeing that he would not get anymore out of her now, he nodded and left the room. Once he was in his own room he pulled out the com-sphere to contact the black mage in Besaid.
Once she was sure she was alone and would not be bothered, Rikku started a conversation with Auron.
"I'm sorry I cried, Auron. You probably think I am such a child now, don't you?"
"On the contrary. You have come this far. It is only natural for you to break at some point. Better now then when you need to be focused. Tidus was much the same way." He reassured her.
"Thanks. I needed to hear that. I'm trying, you know. I don't want anyone to think of me as just a kid. I'm nineteen now." There was a false cheeriness that Auron could sense in her voice, but chose not to say anything about it. "I just want others to see that too."
"Give them time. They will see it soon enough." "As I am starting to see for myself." He added to himself.
"Well I think I'm really getting tired now. Tomorrow I'm going to talk to Kimahri and see when the best time to cross Gagazet would be. I don't want to come this far only to be caught in some freak blizzard."
"Wise decision. Now, you need your rest."
Rikku closed her eyes and let the dream world take her away.
--
The next morning Kimahri treated Rikku and Luzzu to a wonderful Ronso breakfast. Once finished Rikku asked if she could talk to him about the weather. (as weird as it may sound.) He agreed and led her to a private study of his. Rikku marveled at the size of his house? Hut? Cave? She wasn't sure what it was, but it was nice and that's all that mattered.
They had planned that if she was ready, she would be able to leave within the next two hours. It was the mild season, so she would not have to worry about sudden storms. She was about to leave when he stopped her.
"Kimahri need to talk to Rikku about aeon."
She bit her lip in worry, but sat back in her seat waiting for him to continue.
"Kimahri never seen fire bird before, but happy Rikku has found friend."
Now she was confused. What was he talking about? "What do you mean? Luzzu found me, not the other way." She bluffed.
"Not Luzzu. Rikku has Auron as friend." Her breath caught. No one was supposed to know about him. "Kimahri recognize beads on bird's neck. Remember young Al Bhed who gave them to guardian. But Kimahri wonder how he is back. Thought Yuna send him after fighting Sin."
So that was it. All because of some jewelry she had made back when she was younger. She let out a small chuckle. The Ronso were more perceptive then anyone gave them credit for. "Yeah, it's him. The fayth changed him so he could travel with me." She confessed. "So far though, you are the only one who has noticed that small detail. You won't tell anyone, will you?"
"Not if Rikku does not want me to." He shook his head to confirm what he said.
"Thanks Kimahri. You're the best!" She stood and gave him a quick hug before leaving to gather her things together.
Not too much longer after Kimahri and Rikku's conversation was done, she and Luzzu were ready to go. She had bought herself a coat to wear on the mountain. It would be cold at night, and they would be there for at least three or four days.
Luzzu, himself never having climbed the heights, would have to follow her lead and hope she knew what she was doing. They waved good-bye, and took the first few steps that would bring them closer to her goal.
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Whew, done! It's now 1:30. I think I'm gonna post this and go to bed. I have a twelve hour work shift tomorrow (today?) And I want to be well rested for it. Hope you enjoyed this and don't forget to review for me!