Disclaimer: I may own my own house and car, but I don't own the peeps in this story. And I certainly do not own the song I mentioned.

A/n: Major fluff alert. I'm sitting her typing this chapter while listing to The Legend of Dragoon theme. Do you believe in love? If you can I suggest you find the song and download it. It is simply beautiful and it goes with the next scenes so well.

--

"Here goes nothing." Rikku said as she took a deep breath.

The door opened for the two friends as they approached. "We must be expected." Luzzu said if only for something to break the tension.

Slowly they stepped into the chamber. The fayth of Valefor stood waiting for them. "You have received my message. Thank you for coming so quickly. Bahamut has requested I call you here. He has found the whereabouts of Yevon. You must be on your guard at all times. He is close."

"So what are you saying? Is he on this island or something?" Rikku asked unsure.

"Yes. And he knows of your presence as well. Is Phoenix Auron ready?"

"How do you know this?" Luzzu asked as Rikku talked to her fayth.

"We fayth are not bound by time or space. We can see things that mortals cannot. However, with Yevon still awake on Spira, our power is greatly reduced."

"Auron says he is." Rikku finally answered. "He is not afraid."

"Very good. You do not have much time. Even as we speak, Yu Yevon is planning his next uprising. You must hurry if you are to stop him. Luzzu?" Valefor addressed the crusader.

"Yes?"

"You will do everything in your power now to protect Rikku, right?"

"On my honor as a crusader." His heels snapped together as he brought a hand to his chest in the crusader's form of a salute.

"Rikku, you will do all that you can to stop Yevon even if it may cost you your life?"

She paused. Her life? That was not part of the plan. But then she thought about where she would be if she died. On the farplane with those she longed to see. Her mother, her brother who had died when home was attacked by the guado, and most important, Auron would be there as well. She would be sending him there herself.

Valefor waited patiently for her answer.

"Yes, I am ready. I will sacrifice all if it will mean keeping Spira safe."

"You have chosen wisely, but do not worry young one, you will not have to sacrifice your life. You will live through this trial. Now I bid you good-bye, and good luck." Then he slowly faded from view.

"Looks like our job is back on." Rikku tried to joke to ease the mood. "Luzzu, why don't you go on ahead to the beach? I'm going to stay here and meditate."

"Don't take too long. I'm sure Yuna would like to see you as well."

"I won't!" When he was gone she summoned Phoenix in the chamber. She needed to talk to him, and what she wanted to say, had to be told to his face.

He appeared in his fayth form. She was shocked but relieved that he did so. He must have sensed this was not a normal summoning.

"Auron, I needed to tell you something."

"Does this have anything to do with what you began to say last night?" He questioned.

She tried to answer, but her throat refused to let the words out. So she nodded instead. She then drooped her head as if she was ashamed.

"Rikku, I think I know what it is you want to tell me." Her head snapped up and caught his eye.

"I'm sorry. I should just forget it. It's childish anyway." She waved her hand in the air and turned her back on him.

"Rikku," There it was again. Her name. He had said it twice already. "Love is not childish."

She blinked a few times trying to hold onto what he had just said. "Maybe not childish, but foolish then. Who ever heard of someone loving a fayth?" She whispered sadly.

"They have." Rikku turned confusion written on her face. "The fayth. They had planned this from the beginning. I should have figured it out sooner. When Anima questioned me in Zanarkand, I knew it was true."

"But why? Why would they want this if only for me to watch you disappear?"

"Because there must be a bond of some sort to defeat Yevon. Whatever that bond is, it must be stronger then his hatred."

Rikku could see moisture forming in his lone eye. They were already pouring down her own face, but she was sure she could see it in there somewhere. "Well I don't care! I will defeat him and then I will allow myself to die. If only to see you again in the farplane!" She broke down and fell to her knees in pain and anger.

Auron dropped in front of her. He tried to put a hand on her shoulder to shake her out of her thoughts, but found it only to pass right through her. "Rikku, no! You will do such thing! Whatever happens, you will live on. You will live marry and have children. You must!"

"I can't. Not without you."

"Listen to me. Do it for me. I have come to love you enough that no matter what happens next, I want to see you live on. I do not want to see you wander the farplane until you have lived your life out. Promise me you will do that." The last plea came out soft as he begged for her promise.

She lifted her head and looked at him. Looked at the scar that ran down the right side of his face. At the eye sealed shut by that scar. But mostly at the hurt that eye held. She sniffled and managed to stop her tears. Wiping them away with the back of her hand she answered. It was barely audible but he still heard it. "I promise. No matter what."

"Thank you, Rikku." And then something amazing happened. Where before when Auron tried to touch her he passed through her, this time he held her and gently rocked her until she had calmed down and was no longer crying. He kissed the top of her head lightly before whispering in her ear. "I love you, my little Al Bhed. Always remember that."

--

"Well I am surprised. You have managed to do the impossible, Bahamut." Shiva stood next to him staring into the reflection above the pool.

Valefor was there as well along with Anima. They stood on the other side watching the scene in front of them as well.

"We should get ready. Now that they have found each other, Yevon will surely be here soon." Anima (Ami) Spoke.

"Yes, all we have to do now is wait. Phoenix Auron will come through. When he arrives, the first thing we must do is remove Yu Yevon from him as promised." Bahamut said.

"He is about to make his next move then?" Valefor questioned. "Will the lady Summoner be fine?"

"Yes, we believe so. Lady Rikku is strong. Plus Phoenix Auron is the bird of rebirth. I should think if anything were to happen, he would be able to handle it." Shiva answered.

"For all of the sake of Spira, I hope you are right." Ami whispered.

--

Rikku ran down to the beach to enjoy time with her friends. She was eager to see Yuna again before something happened. Besides she wanted to forget about what just happened back in the chamber of the fayth.

Tidus was the first to see her as she ran out. "'Bout time you showed up! Yuna was starting to get upset you wouldn't come." He teased her.

She ran up next to him and swatted his shoulder. "She's my cousin. You think I would miss this?"

"Weell."

"Hey! That's not very nice. Where is Yunie, by the way?" She raised one hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she searched the throng of people.

"Over here." He grabbed her hand and led her to where Yuna was standing.

"Yuna! Rikku made it after all!" He shouted to get her attention.

She had been talking to one of the villagers and they left she could talk to her cousin. "Rikku, I thought you got lost or hurt or something."

"Didn't Luzzu tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Yuna asked confused.

"That Rikku had something to do and that she would be here shortly." Someone else answered from behind her.

"You mean you didn't tell her?" Rikku mocked scolding him.

"I did not get the chance." He answered before turning to the bride. "Congratulations on your marriage by the way. All of Spira is rejoicing for you, I am sure."

"Thank you, Sir Luzzu. I am happy to see you and Rikku were able to make it safely."

"So am I. When the Al Bhed came and picked us up, I wasn't expecting the ride to be so rough."

"Hey! It wasn't that bad." Rikku stood with her hands on her hips waiting for him to apologize. It never came. "Fine then, be that way."

Every one around began to laugh, and before long she joined in with them.

The celebration went well into the night. Rikku moved over to the dock to cool down. Some people went back to lay their children down for the night. Others still partied on. Kimahri soon came to join her.

"Why Rikku by herself? Not enjoying marriage with family?" He asked after standing for a few minutes.

"I just got hot. I needed to cool down some." She dipped a toe into the water enjoying the coolness of it. "Kimahri?"

He grunted letting her know he had heard her.

"Have you ever fallen in love with someone even though you knew you could never be together?"

"Rikku speaks of Sir Auron."

"That obvious is it?" She let out a weak chuckle.

"Kimahri think that if it makes Rikku happy, then Rikku not need to worry about anything else. But Kimahri never hear of aeon and human live together." He confessed.

"Yeah, I thought so too. But I talked to Auron. He thinks that the fayth had this all planned from the beginning. That this was supposed to happen. I guess that until the day I meet the fayth again, I'll never know." She sighed softly when she had finished.

They sat together in companionable silence until a scream broke through the air. They both jumped up and ran back to where the festivities were.

"That sounded like Yunie." Rikku said as they ran. The fear that she may be in trouble only fueled to help them run faster.

--

"Tidus, what are you doing? You're hurting me." She tried to reason with her new husband.

"Be quiet! I only need you until she comes." He yelled.

By this time most of the village had run back to the safety of their homes. Only Wakka, Cid, Luzzu, and Brother stood in front of them ready to defend Yuna if need be.

"What are you doing, ya?" Wakka asked his friend. "You're hurting Yuna."

"Shut up all of you. Or I'll hurt her a lot worse." He threatened as he pulled her closer to him, using her as a shield.

"Yuna!" Kimarhi's growl sounded out.

"Yunie! Tidus what are you doing? Let her go!" Rikku shouted when she saw what was happening.

"There you are. About time you showed up. I was starting to wonder if we would ever be able to meet again." Tidus said to her.

"You're not Tidus. Who are you?"

"It is Yu Yevon. He has taken over the body of the boy."

"No, it can't be." She whispered shocked.

"Believe it summoner. The living dream has allowed me to be able to live again. I will be able to create sin once again." He laughed an evil laugh that sent chills up Rikku's spine.

"No! I won't let you!" Rikku shouted. "You will not use one of my friends like that." She said with determination.

"And what are you going to do about it? You are hardly strong enough to fight me. Or are you going to send your aeons after me again. I killed them once, I can do it again." He threatened. "But better yet, I think I will just use the high summoner here." If possible, he pulled her even closer to himself. She let out a squeak of pain but otherwise said nothing.

Rikku could see her hand (the one he was not holding onto) slowly moving as if she was attempting something. Now would be a good time for a distraction. Concentrating a spell she closed her eyes and let it go about four feet behind and to his left. Just as she planned he turned to see what had happened.

Yuna knowing it was her cousin brought her fist up and punched Tidus (Yevon?) in the jaw. He roared in pain and threw her to the ground.

"How dare you!" Yevon shouted at her as he rubbed the slowly growing bruise.

Kimahri wasted no time and ran in to grab Yuna and pull her to safety. She held onto him, but let him know she was fine otherwise. Cid was with them as well. His niece may have been safe, but now his daughter was the one whose eye Yevon had his sights on.

Luzzu ran up and stood next to his friend. "We have to weaken him somehow. Anything to get him to leave that body."

"I can't do it. Tidus is my friend. I can't hurt him."

Yevon was coming closer to her. His hand was raised as he readied a spell. "Thundaga." He whispered.

Lightning came crashing from the sky hitting the two who stood challenging him. Rikku screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through her body. Next to her, Luzzu stood grinding his teeth holding back his own shout of pain.

"Yes, summoner. I know of your fears. You won't hurt me. Not as long as I control this body."

Ignoring the pain still running along her back and legs, Rikku charged with her twin daggers. 'Weaken him' she repeated to herself. Her blade connected and ran along his arm drawling blood.

Yevon smiled at her attempt. "You have to do better then that, little girl." Then in front of them, the wound healed itself. "See, your precious weapons don't hurt me. You can't hurt me."

"Everyone, get out of here! Get somewhere safe!" Luzzu shouted to those who stood in awe at the scene.

"No way. I'm fighting too, ya!" Wakka protested.

"No! Take Lady Yuna somewhere safe. Get her out of here." With his attention diverted, Yevon took the opportunity to cast a fire spell at him. The power of it knocked his breath away, but otherwise he was fine. "Go, now!" He wheezed as they stood in fear.

Not needing another warning the four friends took off for the village. Happy that her friends and family were safe Rikku breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Now, it's just us and you. Leave Tidus and fight me."

"I don't think so. I rather like this body. It's young, quick, and agile. It will be perfect for the new armor of sin."

Rikku released a quick blizzard spell next to him. It froze the clothes on his arm, but did not do much damage otherwise.

"You call that an attack? I'll show you what ice can do."

Rikku already starting the motions, managed to call Shiva before he was able to gather the energy needed for his next attack. Shiva appeared in all her glory, and Luzzu couldn't help but hold his breath as she took the force of the magic.

As she had planned, Shiva had taken the spell and used it to heal herself. Now she was ready to go. Luzzu stood back to gather his energy as the aeon fought.

"Shiva, diamond dust!" Rikku shouted. Tears stung her eyes as the aeon surrounded her friend in blocks of ice, before snapping and breaking them into nothing.

The ice slowed him down as to be expected, but the energy used to perform such a powerful attack, slowed Shiva down even more.

Yevon was the first one to make the next move. "Drain." He said softly. He stood up straighter as Shiva disappeared in a cloud of pyerflies.

"No. This cannot be." Rikku was as stunned as Luzzu. One attack and the ice queen was done for.

Luzzu now ready to fight again ran back next to Rikku. He ran at Yevon with his sword raised high only to be stop by some kind of shield. "Rikku, he has up a barrier. You have to destroy it."

Nodding, she called up the spell. "Dispel!" She shouted.

Now that his sword could move again, Luzzu brought his sword across Yevon's chest. It ripped open a wound much bigger then what Rikku had done with her blades.

Yevon glanced down at the blood on his chest before laughing. Just as it did before, the wound closed up right in front of them.

"This calls for drastic measures." Rikku pulled a sphere out of her pocket.

"Rikku, your weapons will not hurt him. You must find another way." Auron advised speaking for the first time this fight.

"I know, but I have to try. I don't want to hurt him. This is Tidus. Yunie's husband, and our friend. I know I have to…" She trailed off leaving the thought open for however he wanted to finish it.

Her clothes changed and she now stood in her dark knight armor.

"Using the fallen guardian's sword are we now?" Yevon taunted. "It will do you no good. He was not strong enough to defeat Yunalesca, his sword will be no match for me either."

"That's what you think." Rikku said as she charged. A primal scream escaped her throat as she ran at him. She held the sword above her head in much the same way Luzzu had done, but then changed it in mid-swing throwing Yevon off. She brought it back and used the flat end much the same way a child uses a stick to hit a ball. (Auron's Shooting Star, anyone?)

Yevon flew back about ten feet and landed on his back. He shook his head to clear the stars that had gathered. "How did you…?" He began to question. "No matter. It is off little importance."

He tried to stand, but Luzzu had taken the initiative. He stood over him, sword raised and ready to strike. Yevon saw it coming and dodged leaving Luzzu to hit where he once lay. He swiftly got to his feet and cast another spell in Rikku's direction.

Luzzu saw it coming and ran to save his friend before anything could happen. He made it just in time. Pushing her out of the way he took the full force of the flare spell.

Rikku lay on the ground and could only yell as his body contorted in pain and agony. Tears stung her eyes again as he fell to the ground. "Luzzu! Luzzu, no!" She crawled over to him to see if he was still alive. His breathing was shallow and his heartbeat was fading. "Why? Why did you do that? You idiot!" She cried.

"There is nothing you can do for him now. You must fight on or all of Spira will end up the same way."

She stood up on shaky legs. She panted in anger as she began her next round of assaults. The armor changed back into her normal clothes as she stood barefoot in front of her enemy. "How could you? He was my friend and you have killed him. You will pay for his death." Now where had she heard those words before? "Double cast Demi, Flare!" She shouted in anger.

Yevon faltered but remained on his feet. "You are stronger then I thought. But you still cannot defeat me. Your life shall end here. The ultimate magic, Ultima."

The purple green sphere filled the beach as Rikku hollered in agony. When the magic faded she fell to the sand too tired to fight.

"Now you know how I felt when you attacked me with that spell on the mountain." He gasped.

"He is weakening. Summon Valefor now. You need to recover or you will not survive." Granted Valefor promised she would live, he was not about to take any chances of something happening to her. No matter what she had to live. She had promised!

She did as she was told. She wasn't sure how much damage Valefor could do, but she did need to recover. It was ten minuets later when the aeon disappeared in the same manner as Shiva, but it was enough for Rikku. She stood on her feet again prepared to end this.

"I didn't want it to end this way, but I will do whatever it takes to destroy you." She closed her eyes so she would not have to see her friend's body in pain. "Ultima."

A sphere even more powerful then any other she had ever done filled the air. Yevon bellowed as the magic ripped and tore at all exposed flesh.

Tidus' body could take no more. Yevon fell to the ground and panted.

"Now, Rikku! Now is the time to call on me! He is weak and hurt. His anger is about to overtake him."

"I love you, Auron. No matter what happens, I will remember my promise to you." She whispered as the light circled around her before extending to cover the whole beach with healing power.

Phoenix hovered over her. Yevon seeing a new and stronger host left Tidus in the sand. He floated and then entered the aeon. Rikku knowing what must come next, began her dance.

Beads fell from the aeon neck and fell at her feet as he left for the farplane. She picked them up and held them as she cried. Auron's words filled her ears just before he was gone.

"Live on for me. I will be waiting for you there. And always remember my love for you."

Rikku, hearing these words could only cling to the beads until exhaustion overcame her causing her to pass out.

--

Okay, I hope this got to you all like it did me. I'm typing the story and I was about to cry! What is wrong with me? Anyway, it's time for some reviewer responses.

Mysterious digidreamer: thank you very much for those kind words. I hope this can to the same for you as well. And btw, you're welcome.

Neko-Yuff16: get ready to freak again. I won't be home Thursday, but the next chapter should be out by Monday or Tues. I know exactly what I want to do next. Even down to the last sentence. All I have to do it type it.

Thunder-demon: Hey I wasn't complaining, it just sounded funny the first time I read it. I hope this fills the cute factor as well.

When I first began to type this I mentioned that I was listening to a specific song. Well now that I am done, it comes back on. And yes, it still goes well with this chapter. It just fits so well. Go find it! Gin