Disclaimer: Please don't ask me to say this. I don't own it.
A/n: This will start slow, but it's me getting out my shovel and filling in the canyons of plot holes I left open in the first part.
MakoAnima: Don't worry too much. Yes this will be much fluffier then the first, but there will be plenty of action as well.
Chibi-sorrow: You know, dummy and idiot just don't seem to translate well. Oh well. Kidding, I wouldn't do that to him. I think I may have one though, maybe.
Mysterious digidreamer: I'm gonna try to keep it like that. Just a bit more fluff though, since they are now together.
Thunder Demon: Ehh, I don't blame you. Just give me time to get into the meat of the fic.
Riny Beoulve: So sorry about Kimahri, but I wanted to sound like he did in the game. At least that's what I tried. Maybe I can do better this time.
LilCheekyAngel: Glad to see you back. And I will try to update as fast as I can.
Ginger: I'm glad you liked the first one, I just can't wait till I really get into this one. It's gonna be fun.
That night a bonfire was held on the beach in honor of the return of Auron. Wakka and Luzzu were as shocked as most of the others to see his return. Lulu was as well, but she managed to hide it a bit better then the others. The seven of them sat around exchanging stories and whatnot. Finally the question came that Rikku had been waiting for.
"Hey, Rikku. How about you tell us all what happened, ya?" Wakka said when it was quiet.
She nodded before standing and brushing sand off the bottom of her skirt. She quickly glanced down to Auron as he gave her a slight smile to reassure her. She began from the beginning. Starting with how she met the fayth of Bahamut, and what he had told her about Yevon. She explained how she had become a summoner so that he could be sent after she had found him. The aeons had been living the farplane since Yuna had sent them four years ago. Since she was at that time there, she had gained the ability to summon after agreeing to do as the fayth had asked.
It was an hour later when she was about finished with her story. By this time she had sat back down and slid one hand into Auron's for the next part. "The fayth had a plan for us though." She started softly. "There had to be some sort of bond between summoner and aeon to defeat Yevon for good."
"Love. That was it, right?" Yuna asked.
Auron grunted, but Rikku nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, we had to not only learn to put up with each other." Auron glared at her but said nothing. "We had to come to love each other. It was the only bond strong enough."
They sat in silence for a while longer before Tidus stretched and lay back onto the sand. A moment later his snoring could be heard throughout the area. "I think I better take him home." Yuna said as she leaned over to wake him up. He grunted in annoyance before following her back.
"I think we better be getting back as well." Lulu said as she watched them leave. "I left Vidina with a sitter. By now I'm sure they must have fallen asleep waiting."
This left only Luzzu, Rikku, and Auron sitting around the fire.
For the first time that night, Luzzu spoke. "I must say, it is an honor to meet you again, Sir Auron. However, you did ruin my plans."
"What do you mean, Luzzu?" Rikku asked as she scratched her cheek in thought.
"Forget it. I shouldn't have even said anything." He stood and turned to leave himself.
Rikku tried to stop him before Auron held her back. "Let him go. There are things he must deal with on his own." He told the young woman."
"You're right. Just like always." She shivered slightly in the night air. It somehow seemed colder without the group being there.
Auron noticed the movement and shifted to remove his jacket. "Here." He said as he draped it over her shoulders.
"No I can't. What will you wear?"
"Do not worry about me. It is cold. You need it more then I." Before she had a chance to object, he leaned over and kissed her.
She forgot all about the argument and enjoyed the feeling of his lips on hers. This was better then fighting anyway.
Later as they walked back to the village, Rikku brought up something she had feared since his return. "You know, I really should go back to home. Vydran had been bothering me about it ever since I left. But now I can tell him about you!" She hopped in excitement.
Auron looked on as she did her small dance and chuckled. Could it be that only four years ago these types of antics would annoy him? He watched her movements and knew it was her that had changed him. That and the nagging feeling of death was gone. The feeling of never being at peace no matter what. Yes, this pixie of a girl, no woman, had done that for him.
"Come on. We must hurry." He said as he took her hand and stopped her dancing.
She pouted. "You're always in a hurry. Can't we slow down and just enjoy ourselves?"
"Yes, but the sun will be up soon. I would like to get some sleep before we take off traveling again."
Rikku wanted to protest again, but knew he was right. She slipped out of the coat and draped it over her arm. As she did so, something hard hit her arm through the fabric.
"What do you have in this thing?" She asked him. "It felt like a brick just hit me."
He stopped walking and turned to her. "Why don't you find it and see?" He suggested. Rikku could see a slight smirk on his face as he did so.
Ignoring him for the moment, she dug through the pockets of the coat. The first one came up empty and she scowled before searching the second. Her eyes opened wide when she pulled out a black velvet box. "What is this?"
Gently he took the box from her hands and opened it for her. "I found this in Luca. When I saw it I was reminded of your eyes." He chose not to mention how Bahamut set him up to find it. Best not to go there.
"It's wonderful." She said as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. "I-I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything." He pulled the necklace out of the box and put it on her. She smiled up at him and how close he was to her. She could smell his scent from his proximity. Like rain before a storm, or a breeze coming from the sea. She got so lost in it that she almost forgot where she was. He gave her a very chaste kiss before leading her back to the village once again.
They slept in late the next day having been out so late the night before. Rikku was the first one up. She took one glance at Auron's sleeping form before leaving the crusader lodge. Outside she was met with Vidina toddling up to her.
"Hey there, Vidina!" She greeted as she picked him up. "Where are your mommy and daddy?"
He pointed behind him. "Mama, Dada."
She looked to where he was pointing to see Lulu coming out of her hut. "There you are." She said to the kid. "You shouldn't run away from Mommy like that. Thank you, Rikku, for finding him."
Rikku handed the kid over as she answered. "I didn't do anything, he came up to me. Hey, Lulu. Do you know where Yunie is? I need to talk to her."
"I'm not sure. You could try down at the beach. She might be there with Tidus and Wakka."
Rikku took off running. She did manage to thank the dark haired mage before she was too far though.
As she made her way down, Rikku tried a little experiment. Was her magic still as strong as it was when she was fighting Yevon? A fiend jumped out in front of her. "A dingo. Perfect." An evil grin grew on her face. "Blizzard." She said as the ice-based attack surrounded the fiend. It yelped in pain before floating away in a cloud of pyerflies. "Wow, I didn't think it would still work." She said surprised. "I'll have to remember to be careful about that in the future. Don't want to hurt anyone."
She strolled the rest of the way taking out fiends as they got in the way. Before long she saw her cousin on the beach watching the Aurochs play. "Hey, Yunie!" She shouted and waved her arm above her head to get her attention.
"Rikku. About time you woke up." She smiled as Rikku joined her side. "What are you doing today?"
"I needed to ask you a question. I'm thinking of going home for a couple weeks. When does the next boat leave for Luca?"
Yuna turned to her cousin shocked. "But, Rikku, you just got here. Why would you want to leave again?"
"Pops has been getting on me to return. I'm starting to think he may be right. I mean I am twenty now. I should grow up, right? Besides, now I have someone to introduce him to." A large tooth filled grin came across Rikku's face.
"But Cid already knows Auron. They met when I was on my pilgrimage." Yuna pointed out.
"Yeah, but that was the angry unsent Auron. Now he's alive and stuff." Rikku countered.
"Rikku, do you really think that's a good idea? If I remember correctly, they didn't get along to well."
"You worry too much, Yunie. Relax. They'll love each other. Pops is rough to everyone." Rikku giggled.
"Rikku, I hope you are right. But in answer to your question, the next boat leaves tonight."
"That's great! Thanks a lot. I have to go tell Auron." Rikku gave her cousin a quick hug before running back to the village.
Tidus came out of the water just as Rikku left. He had seen the hug and Rikku run. "What was that all about?" He asked as he kissed Yuna's cheek.
"She's leaving again. Says she wants to go back to home so that Cid and Auron can meet." She answered sadly.
"Don't they already know each other?"
"I said that too. But she seems to think that this time will be different."
After gathering some things together, Rikku and Auron headed out. Their friends stood on the pier waving bye to them, with the exception of Luzzu. He had insisted that he go along as well. He had vowed that he would protect her no matter what. And a vow of a crusader was binding.
The boat sailed off and soon Besaid was nothing more then a dot in the distance. Rikku had disappeared some time ago leaving the two men to talk amongst themselves.
"So what do you expect once you reach Bikanel? Surely Cid won't be welcoming you with open arms. He still is upset with you trying to lead Yuna off to her death." Luzzu said after some time.
"I will deal with that when the time comes." The red-coated man answered. Granted he was not on speaking terms with the leader, he still was seeing his daughter. He would act as civil he possible. "You act as if you have something against me." Auron said.
Luzzu said nothing, but a slight nod of the head gave indication that he had heard him. "I do not wish to see Rikku get hurt." He explained.
"Then you do not need to worry about me. I will do no such thing."
"No, I guess not. It is not in your nature." Luzzu responded.
They stood in silence, an agreement passing between them, before Rikku bounded back up. "Hey, guys. Getting along?"
"Yes, I believe we are. Where did you go?" Auron answered.
"I just had something I needed to take care of. They had put Luzzu on the other end of the ship. There was a cabin next to ours, and so I moved his things for him. I want him close since he is my friend."
"I see. But Rikku, you did not need to do that."
"Luzzu, you are my friend. I don't want you far away. What if something were to happen? What if the ship was to sink and we could not find you? What if..?"
"Rikku." Auron interrupted her before she could go on. "Enough with the what if's. Nothing will happen." He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "Just concentrate on getting to home."
"Okay." She said weakly. A yawn escaped before she could stop it. "I think I'm getting tired. Do you mind if I go and lay down for a bit?"
It was getting late. The ship had problems before it was able to set sail. Auron glanced up at the stars above him. "I think it may be time for all of us to turn in. Tomorrow will be a long day. We should sleep now and get up early to get a head start."
Without saying another word the trio headed in to get some much needed sleep.
Okay I really hate this chap. But I couldn't just say 'and then they arrived at the Al Bhed home.' It wouldn't run as smooth. I even started this off different, deleted it, and began again. Be happy I didn't put the first version up. It sucked worse then this one. Anyway, review and let me know what you think. Gining