A/N: Howdy guys! I've returned with chapter twenty-three! Whoo! I must thank you all for the reviews, and ask that you do it again! I love to here from you! Okey-dokey, here is the next installment!
Disclaimer: I do not own FFX. The only thing I own is my story...Hey, at least I own something!
Chapter 23: Mission Impossible: The beginning
"Yuna? Are you ready?" Tidus called from outside the bedroom door. He glanced at his clock. Six-twenty. He had made reservations at La Cherie for seven. They needed to be on the road now.
"Just about," Yuna called from behind the door. She surveyed her reflection in the mirror. A dark blue satin dress, matching heels, a thin diamond necklace, small diamond studs in each ear...everything was nearly perfect. Now all she needed to do was curl her hair.
"Yuna," Tidus repeated, in a tone that suggested that he was in misery. He rapped his knuckles across the door. He wanted this night to be perfect, and being late was not perfect! He leaned his head against the door. Why must women take so long to get ready?
"I'm ready," Yuna declared, throwing open the door and nearly knocking Tidus off his feet.
"Whoa!" Tidus cried, catching himself before he hit the floor. As he rightned himself, he caught sight of Yuna. "Whoa," he repeated, taking in the sight of the beautiful women in front of him.
Yuna blushed under Tidus' approving gaze. She glanced up shyly, and looked at the man before her. 'Whoa' could descibe him as well. He wasn't in a suit, but he did have on a pair of black dress slacks, a white t shirt -which was tucked in- and a black dress jacket.
"Are you ready?" Tidus asked softly, having recovered from the initial shock of seeing Yuna.
Yuna nodded her head and slipped her arm through Tidus'.
"We'll be back in a little while," Yuna called to her friends, who were all gathered in the living room.
"Don't wait up," Tidus added. He heard a chorus of 'have fun's' as he closed the door behind him. Turning to Yuna, he smiled lovingly. "Ready for a night of fun?"
Yuna felt a shiver of excitment run through. She returned the smile. "You bet."
0000
"Aw! Don't they just look adorable together?" Rikku cooed, watching the door close and Yuna and Tidus make their exit.
Lulu nodded her head. "She does love that boy, doesn't she?"
Wakka grunted. "Well, he'd better love her as well, ya? This isn't them going on a date, or spending a weekend together. We're talking marriage. Permanent, life-changing, always- and- forever marriage."
"Oh, Wakka," Rikku sighed. "You make it sound as though it's a fate worse than death." She leaned back into the couch and sighed happily. "I think it would be wonderful to be married to the man you love and have a family. I can't believe Yunie beat me to it," she added with mock scorn.
She glanced at Auron and remembered their previous spat. Her happy mood them seemed to dampen some. Yuna had beat her to marriage, and if things keep going they way they were now, Rikku would probably never catch up.
Wakka grunted again. "All I'm saying is, Tidus had better know what he's doing." Wakka was happy for the couple, really he was, but the protective older brother instinct was getting the better of him.
"And the only thing I have to say is that Yuna had better act surprised. Because if Tidus finds out that I told you, and you told Yuna-" Auron would have finished his sentence, but he was quickly interrupted by Lulu and Wakka.
"You told Yuna!" Wakka yelled, jumping off the couch.
"You told Auron that we told Yuna!"
"Lu! You told!" Wakka spun from Rikku to face his fiancee. How could she tell? He expected as much from Rikku, but Lulu? She had never broken any of his promises!
"No!" Lulu replied, shock evident in her voice and on her face. "I would never deliberately disobey your wishes." She pointed an accusing finger at Rikku. "She told."
"You helped!" Rikku spat back. "If it hadn't been for your engagement ring, then I would've never gotten Yuna to figure out the word marriage!"
"I told you that I wanted nothing to do with your little charade, did I not?" Lulu replied, making sure that Rikku could pin none of this on her. After all, she really hadn't wanted to go against Wakka's wishes. Rikku was the one who had actually done it. Even though she had wanted Yuna to know, she wasn't the one who had went through with it.
Rikku faltered. Well, Lulu was right there. "You still helped," she finally mumbled.
"What, did you act it out?" Wakka scoffed, picking up on the words 'figure out' and 'charade'. The room grew silent, and Wakka sighed. "You did, didn't you?"
"She did," Auron answered, giving Rikku another one of his 'I-can't-believe-you' looks.
"Well, I didn't actually go against your wishes! It's not like I told her!" Rikku cried, her temper flaring.
Why did everyone keep blaming stuff on her?
Okay, so she had told Yuna that Tidus was going to propose, but so what? If Yuna was the one proposing, they would've told Tidus! Frankly, she was sick of everyone yelling at her.
"Yes, you did," Auron retorted
"No, I didn't. I acted it out. Acting and talking are two very different things."
"That's not the point," Auron sighed.
Lulu and Wakka stayed silent, each glacing back and forth between Rikku and Auron, and occasionally each other. This was more than just Rikku telling Yuna. It had to be.
"Then what is the point?" Rikku demanded, standing from the couch and placing a hand on her hip. She had already apologized. What more could she do?
"Never mind." Auron stood and stalked towards the kitchen. If she didn't know, then why should he tell her? Why should he tell her that he felt betrayed because she had broken his trust?
"Auron."
Hearing his name, Auron stopped, but only glanced over his shoulder. "What?"
"What did I do?" Rikku asked, not as harsh as her previous words, but harsh enough to let him know that she wanted an answer.
"You broke your promise, Rikku. You broke my trust. And without trust, there can be no relationship." As soon as he uttered the words, Auron wished he could take them. That was not what he meant! Why had he said it that way? He didn't want to end their relatioship! He hadn't even gotten the chance to tell her his true feelings...
Turning, he saw the stunned expression on Rikku's face. The stunned look that instantly turned to realization, which quickly turned into sadness.
Rikku felt the tears build up behind her eyes. Auron was breaking up with her. Breaking up with her before she even had the chance to tell him that she was in love with him.
Turning sharply on her heel, Rikku practically ran to the door. She stood momentairly, and whispered the barely audible words "I'm sorry", before opening the door and disappearing into the hallway.
In her wake, Rikku left a stunned Auron, a shocked Lulu, and a rather confused Wakka. After a long pause, Wakka fianlly broke the silence.
"I'm not to sure what just happned, but I'm willing to guess that you didn't want to say that?"
Auron merely nodded his head, staring at the door. The hurt- no, pained look on Rikku's face was still fresh in his memory, and he had been the one to put that look on her beautiful face.
"So you're still standing here...?" Lulu questioned, looking at Auron and then the door.
At Lulu's words, Auron jerked to life. He quickly crossed the room and reached the door. Once there, he hesitated. "I don't know where-"
"She couldn't've gotten very far, Brudda."
"Try the beach," Lulu encouraged.
Auron nodded his head, an pulled open the door. "Thanks," he called, shutting the door and sprinting down the stairs. He had to find Rikku and tell her how he really felt. He needed to tell her that he loved her.
0000
"Are you having a good time?" Tidus asked, taking a bite of his- well, he wasn't sure what it was, but it was good. He glaced across the small table to look at Yuna. Yevon, she sure was beautiful tonight. He discretely checked his pocket, making sure the ring was still there.
Uh-oh. Why couldn't he feel the inprint of the box?
He quickly checked his other pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, he still had the ring. Now all he had to do was wait for the perfect oppurtunity to pop the question...
Yuna nodded her head as she sipped her champagne. The restaurant was lovely, the atmosphere was great, and food was delicious. So far, the night was perfect.
But all that champagne was getting to her, and she really had to go to the bathroom. Yuna quickly excused her self and made her way to the restroom, leaving Tidus behind with his thoughts.
No she's gone...Maybe I could drop the ring in her champagne, and she would find it. That would be original, Tidus thought. Then another thought entered his head. Or she might get chocked on it. That would be his luck. He'd kill her before he even got that chance to ask her!
Ohh, I could stick in her mashed potatos! he though eagerly. But that would make the ring all messy, and again, she might get choked on it. What to do...
Then, he got a brilliant idea. Napkin! He could hide it her napkin, and when she went to open it, it would fall gracefully into her lap.
Just as Tidus was preparing to hide the ring, Yuna returned.
"Sorry it took so long. There was a line," Yuna said, sitting back down. She picked up her napkin and placed it back in her lap.
Great! My plan would have worked! Tidus though dejectedly. He sighed and shoved some food in his mouth. Guess he'd have to wait until later for his perfect proposal.
0000
Stupid. I'm so stupid. Why did I tell Yunie? Why did I have to go and open my big mouth...As Rikku thought those words, a rueful smile formed on her lips. Well, technially I didn't tell her, but that's not the point now is it?
Walking along the sidewalk, Rikku took a left and then a right and ended up on Bevelle Beach. It was really the only place she knew how to reach by foot. Plopping herself down in the sand, she started up at the beautifully lit up sky. Even in Bevelle, the busiest city she of, the stars still shone brillantly.
"I hope your having fun, Yunie, 'cause I'm sure not," she spoke to the sky, pulling up her knees and dropping her head in them. If only she hadn't told Yuna, then Auron wouldn't be upset with her. Correction: then Auron wouldn't have broken up with her.
Just thinking the words brought tears to her eyes. She hadn't even gotten the chance to tell him that she was in love with him! She had to open her mouth, and blow her chance at happiness to smithereens. That was her nack. Blowing stuff sky high. That was why she messed with machina and bombs. It was the only thing she had going for her.
"Well, fine then," Rikku began, lifting her head from her knees. "I'll become a famous machina expert, and I'll live in a mansion, and I won't need a man." She looked up at the sky with a resolute look sketched on her face. "I'll become rich, and then every man in the world will want me, but they won't be able to have me because I won't need them."
But her determanation quickly faltered as another thought entered her head. "I won't want them because the only man I want is Auron," she whailed, a new torrent of tears flowing from her eyes. "I'm going to end up old and alone." She buried her head in her hands, trying to muffle her sobs. People on the beach was going to think she was crazy.
"Rikku! Rikku, is that you?"
Rikku's heart skipped a beat. Was that...
"Auron?" Turning, Rikku saw that it was exactly who she thought it was. She quickly turned her back on him and returned her head to it's previous postition. "Leave me alone."
Auron ignored her comment and came to a stop once he stood beside her. "I've been looking all over for you," he said, slightly winded. He had been chasing after her for a good forty-five minutes, and he literally had chased after her. "We need to talk."
"I think you've said enough," Rikku replied, her voice muffled. Why wouldn't he leave? Why couldn't he just let her wallow in her self-pity by herself?
"Rikku," Auron bended down to her eye-level. "Rikku, would you look at me?" When she refused, he repeated: "Look at me."
Shaking her head, Rikku buried her head deeper. "No," she replied, feeling a new rush tears hit her.
What was wrong with her? How was she ever going to look at him again if she was going to burst into tears at the sound of his voice?
Hearing her muffled sobs, Auron immediately put an arm around her and drew her to his side. "Come here."
"No," Rikku said, burying her face in his shoulder despite her words of protest. Why was he comforting her? Did he feel sorry for her? That must be it. He felt sorry for the pathetic girl he had dumped. Well, she didn't want his pity...
"Rikku," Auron began, stroking her back in an attempt to comfort her. Him and his horrible way with words. Look at what he was putting her through. "I want to apologize to you. I didn't mean-"
"No, you don't have to do that. I don't want your pity," Rikku interrupted, trying to pull away from his embrace. To her surprise -and truthfully, her delight- Auron only tightened his hold on her.
"Now let me finish. I did not mean what I said back there. I was upset, and-"
Once again, Rikku interrupted him. "What do you mean you didn't mean what you said?" Rikku's heart picked up speed. Was he truely apologizing to her? Did he really mean that he didn't want to end their relationship.
"I mean exactly that. I have no intentions of ending our relationship." He took a deep breath and turned to face Rikku."Why would I want to end the relationship with the woman I love?" There. He had done it. He had plunged off the tallest building head first. Now he only prayed that he didn't land flat on his face.
Rikku sat in the sand, to speechless to react. Had Auron just said he was in love with her? Her? Rikku? She glanced around the beach. There was no one else around...
Suddenly, it all sunk in. Auron had told her he loved her! And her she was sitting there like a statue! She swiftly regained her composure and looked up to meet his gaze. "You love me?"
Auron nodded his head. "I do." He self-consciously ran a hand through his hair. Well, so far he was still falling. She hadn't rejected him, nor had she accepted him.
Rikku's eyes once again misted over. Only this time it was not with sadness, but happiness. "I love you, too, Auron."
And he hit the ground. Feet firmly planted; not on his face. Auron flashed a rare smile before sealing his words with a kiss.
0000
Reply to my grand reviewers...
Debbie: Sorry for forgetting you in my last chapter. I'm glad you came across it as well! I love positive feed back. Thank you.
Terroroz: Oh, I know you were. I was just agreeing with you. And, I hate to tell ya, that picture didn't show, and I couldn't get the link.
Yuna-Elena: I liked my illegal use of magic as well...Thanks for the review!
GiGgLyGaL: Sadly, Tidus won't do it til next chapter. I know I said this one, but, well, read my Author's Note at the bottom. Oh, I won't tell on you for not doing your homework, I'm glad ya ditched it to read my fic!
Crazyanimelover: You mean Lily, Kiki, and Amy? I might..not sure.
The Dr. : You didn't sound edgey. Auron forgave Rikku this chappie, and Tidus will propse next chappie. And it will be a night to remember...
Chibi Sorrow: I was reading my reviews for Second Chance, and I saw your name there. And, you asked me how you could kill off poor Zelos, so I'm gonna tell ya! When you're in Flanoir, and all those people come and knock on your door, you have to reject them all, and then you'll go outside alone. When you get outside, Kratos will be there, and then it's all atomatic from there. Personally, I don't recommend it. I hated killing poor Zelos! I love kratos, don't get me wrong, but I love Zelos too!
Anyways, back to this fic, Thanks for the review!
MaxBlader01: Yay! Thank you! I didn't think I was that great of a writer to make people like Aurikku's!
Akimalynn: Thanks!
tidusXyuna: So that's what AU means...Thanks! And, thanks for the review!
A/N: Okay, there is chapter twenty-three. I know I said there would be a proposal, but it's gonna be in the next chapter. I think Auron and Rikku stole to much of the spot light in this chapter. So, the proposal will be in the NEXT chapter. I promise! Well, it is 12:24, and I am sleepy. Please leave me a review, and don't forget to read the next chapter! You know you all don't wanna miss out on the proposal! Oh, and, thanks for the reviews!