I woke up to pitch darkness. I glanced around in confusion, then sighed as it all came back to me in a flash. I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but the night pressed against me like a wet blanket. I give up, I thought resignedly, and got to my feet. I wandered over to the curtain covered sliding glass door that opened into the small walled yard. Flipping the lock, I stepped out into the cool night air. The grass tickled my bare feet as I walked across the yard to a large yen-like garden where a wooden bench rested. I sat at one end and gazed into the small pool surrounded by silvery grasses. Every once in a while I saw a flash as a goldfish's scales caught the soft lights of the city. The night was clear and crisp, and a light breeze whispered through the grass.

I had been there for about an hour when I noticed a soft glow in the eastern sky. I watched in awe while the world around me brightened with every passing minute. One by one the city lights faded as the sun crept up above the skyline. Birds began to sing, softly at first, then with growing confidence. Enraptured by their music, I failed to notice the faint stirrings in the house behind me until the sliding door opened. I felt rather than heard Auron move across the yard until he stood beside me.

"I made breakfast if you're hungry," he said after a while. I nodded and rose stiffly. We crossed the lawn and entered the warm house. The smell of bacon and eggs hit me as I closed the door behind me. Auron handed me a plate full of food and a fork. I sat at the small table in the corner of the living room and began to devour the eggs.

"Mmm, thanks. This is really good," I raved. Auron grunted a reply and helped himself to some bacon. I shrugged and quickly polished off my breakfast. We rinsed our plates in the sink; then Auron turned to me.

"I teach the young warriors-in-training at the temple every day during the week, so you'll need something to keep yourself busy. You can clean the house first, then run a few errands for me. I'll write a list of everything I need and where you can find them." I nodded. He grabbed a scrap of paper and scratched down a few things and handed me the list. "Cleaning supplies are under the sink. You should have everything you need. Stay out of my room and the office in the back; I'll take care of them." Again I nodded. He stared at me for a moment; then, apparently satisfied with my response, grabbed his red kimono/coat and headed towards the door. Abruptly, he stopped and turned around. "There should be a few extra gil when you finish shopping. Use it to get yourself some clothes and personal items. If you need anything else, let me know." Surprised, I just stood there staring at him blankly. His mouth twitched and I could have sworn he was holding back a smile; then he was gone.

I stood in the middle of the living room for several minutes after Auron left, trying to decide where to start. I'll do the kitchen first, then in here and the bathroom last. I soon lost track of time. The house was in good order, but it had obviously been a while since a female had cleaned it. I quickly whipped the kitchen into shape, and the other rooms took only a little more time. I put all my supplies away and picked up the list that the warrior had left. Unfamiliar names jumped out at me and I grimaced. It's a good thing he wrote down where to get these, or I'd be totally lost. It was still a little chilly outside, so I grabbed a light jacket of Auron's that was hanging by the door. I chuckled as I saw how large it was on me, but figured it was better than nothing.

The first thing I noticed was how much quieter the town was than it had been the night before. Everyone must be working, I thought. Remembering that was what I was supposed to be doing, I glanced down at the paper in my hand. Hmm….Lana's Potions….Haste, Hi-potion, and Remedy. I shrugged. I'll check in the area I was last night. If it's not there, someone should know where I can find it. I started off in the direction of the shops I had visited the day before. The day was warming up and before I was halfway there, I had shed my borrowed jacket and slung it over one shoulder.

Ten minutes later I reached the main street I had been on the afternoon before. I strolled along keeping an eye out for Lana's Potions. I finally found the tiny shop on the other edge of the square, nestled between two much larger stores. As I ducked inside, a sweet aroma that made me think of nutmeg wafted towards me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the spicy smells.

"May I help you?" a female voice queried. I opened my eyes abruptly. An auburn-haired girl about my age straightened up from where she had been stocking bottles on one of the lower shelves. She studied me curiously as I reddened.

"I…um…yeah, uh, I need these items," I stuttered and handed her the list. Her eyes widened as she recognized the handwriting. She looked up sharply.

"I know who you are!" she exclaimed. "You're that girl who's staying with Sir Auron. I heard he and Sir Tiorak saved you from a snow wolf."

"Wow!" I said. "Word travels fast!"

She laughed pleasantly. "In Bevelle it does, at least," she responded. "Well, this is Lana's Potions, and I'm Lana, so you've made it this far."

I smiled. "So you really have your own store?"

Lana nodded. "My parents died when their ship sank before I was old enough to remember them and my grandparents took my brother and me in. My grandmother had this shop, and when I was young I'd spend hours helping her out in here. It was so cool, learning to mix potions and meeting the warriors from all over that came here. She was pretty well-known for her abilities, but when she was in her sixties, she had a stroke and couldn't work anymore. My grandpa had died a few years earlier, and I already knew how to do everything here, so it was just natural that I would take over. When she died, her will signed it all over to me. My older brother, Jyrie, helps out and there are several other employees, but it's mine. I try to run everything with the same principles that she would. It's a way of feeling close to her, I guess."

"And you know Auron?"

"Oh, yeah, he comes in here all the time. He always orders ahead if he's going on an outposting, too, which is more than some warriors can say. Nothing worse than when it's ten minutes to closing and they come in needing a three-day supply.

"But I wanted to ask about you. How did you get here? Or would it be too forward of me to ask what happened?"

I found myself telling Lana everything: my internship in Japan, the wall of water, waking up and having no idea where I was, even my conflicting feelings about Auron. I had a gut feeling this was someone I could trust, a friend I could talk to. She listened intently without interrupting me once. When I finished she was silent.

"I don't know what to do, Lana," I whispered softly. "I feel so lost, so alone. I assume that anyone I tell this story to will think I'm hallucinating or even crazy. Even Auron treats me that way."

"I don't think you're crazy," Lana said finally, "and I don't believe Auron does either. That's just his way. It takes a while, but I think you two will eventually get along. From what I know about him and what you've told me, I believe you're both a lot alike. Maybe that's why you have trouble relating to each other." I smiled at the thought of Auron and I having anything in common. Lana laughed, but insisted, "I know it sounds ridiculous, but you wait and see. I bet you'll find out you're more like him than you'd want to think." I rolled my eyes and she laughed harder. "Ok, ok, I'll get your potions for you. Just remember what I said." She handed me a sack full of vials. "Hey, anytime you need to talk or just wanna go hang out, I'll be here, ok?"

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks, I'll definitely take you up on the offer." She smiled and waved as I walked out into the sunlight.

I stepped out into the street and pulled out my list. I glanced down the rest of the items I had yet to get. Rice, shrimp, some lettuce and tomatoes, eggs, milk and…sake? Sweet! I thought. I had tasted sake a few times in Tokyo and enjoyed it tremendously. I guess this guy isn't a total stiff after all. I chuckled and looked around to see if I could find the sake shop in the square. Unfortunately, I wasn't going to be so lucky this time. The store was nowhere in sight. Sighing, I ducked into the next building I saw to ask directions.

As I walked in the door, I noticed the bar-like interior was nearly empty except for a few patrons at a corner table. An older man was at the counter wiping glasses and eyed me suspiciously as I crossed the floor towards him. The intense conversation in the back ceased as I walked to the bar. The bartender plopped his rag on the bar and leaned forward.

"Anything I can get for you?" he asked after a slight hesitation.

"Nothing right now," I responded with a friendly smile. "Just looking for a shop and wondered if you might know where it's at." His eyebrows quirked.

"Lived in this town my whole life, missy. If I don't know where it is, don't nobody." His face lost some of its suspicion and his eyes began to twinkle. I laughed and rested my arms on the bar between us.

"I'm supposed to order a cask of sake at Kiki's Brewery and have it delivered to Sir Auron's house."

"Oh, yes, I remember hearing about you now."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Is there anyone who doesn't know that I'm staying with Auron?"

The man chuckled heartily. "Probably not. Bevelle may be a large city, but news travels fast and your arrival made quite a stir. In answer to your question, at the end of this street, take the road to your left. After a while, you'll come to a T. Turn right, and you'll see the sign from there."

I grinned my thanks to the tender and trotted out the door. From the front step I could see a street turn off to the left. That's it, I thought cheerfully. I strolled along the narrowing walkway and found the road. As I walked along, I began to hear the sound of gulls crying and occasionally saw them fly over. The tangy smell of salt water reached me and I inhaled deeply. There must be a bay nearby. The early afternoon sun was high and pleasantly warm, and I began to feel optimistic about my new life. After walking for quite a while, though, the pack on my shoulder began to grow heavy. I was relieved to see the T the old man had mentioned and swung right. Sure enough, down the road a little ways I could see the sign "Kiki's" swaying in the light salty breeze. Off to the left, the buildings dropped away and a magnificent view of the sea was revealed. I sucked in my breath at the sight. Gulls skimmed the surface and occasionally came back up with silvery fish. In the distance, I could make out a small fishing boat bobbing on the waves.

I stood for a moment longer savoring the sights and smells before heading towards the large oak door advertising "Jarra's walnut-seasoned sake." A small bell jingled when I opened the heavy door. The building was pleasantly cool and from all appearances completely empty.

"Hello?" I called out. "Is anyone here?"

"In the back," a woman's voice replied. I followed the voice into the dark back of the building. My eyes strained to adjust to the cool blackness after the bright sunlight. I looked around, confused.

"Where?" I asked loudly.

The voice laughed like the bell that had announced my arrival. "Down here in the cellar. Look for the big door." Turning to my right, I noticed a wood door I had previously missed. I descended the stone steps into a cool, dank cellar. A single dim light hung above the low ceiling on a chain. A woman was lifting small casks from a barrel and setting them on huge wooden shelves. She straightened up and smoothed her hands down the sides of her canvas apron with a smile.

"Auron sent you, right?" she asked. I smothered a groan and nodded. Her smile grew wider. "I guess you've been asked that a lot today, huh?" At my confused expression, she motioned towards my pack. "It looks as though he's been keeping you busy. Why don't you put all that on the barrel beside you and sit down. You look like you could use a break." I shifted the pack off of my shoulder and carefully laid it on the barrel. I was surprised to find how much lighter I felt. I lowered myself into the chair the woman waved at and sighed.

"So you came to order up his sake," she said with a nostalgic look in her eyes. "He's been ordering from here for about ten years – ever since my uncle ran this place."

"So was Kiki your uncle?" I asked. She laughed. "No, no, Kiki was my grandmother. She started this brewery over fifty years ago. I don't remember her – she died before I was born – but she left the business to my uncle. He took me in seven years later when my parents died in a shipping accident, and when he died four years ago, he left everything to me. I've been running it ever since."

"Do you live here and run everything by yourself?"

She smiled again. "Oh, no, there's Abbie and her husband Gaer, and every other week Forney comes to help out. It's not a bustling business, but we make a nice profit." She lifted the last of the casks from the barrel and set it on the shelf, then straightened up and slid an empty crate out of the way with her foot. "Well, I suppose you've other errands to attend to. This is Forney's week, so I'll have him swing by later on and drop your order off." She waited while I grabbed my pack and moved towards the stairs. I was startled at the warm air coming from the rest of the building and realized how nice being in the cellar had been. We dodged barrels and crates as we wove our way to the door. She turned off the light and slid the heavy door closed. "Be sure to give Auron my regards and congratulations. I'm sure the two of you will get along splendidly."

I chuckled inwardly and smiled my thanks. "I will," I promised. I counted out the gil and handed them to her. She patted me on the shoulder as I stepped outside then closed the door behind me.

It wasn't until I was halfway to the T that I remembered I hadn't gotten her name. I shrugged. I'm sure Auron knows. I traced my steps back towards the intersection where I had seen a small roadside market. I can pick up the foodstuffs there and then see what kinds of clothing shops they have around here. I quickly browsed through the small but clean grocery and picked up the few things left on the list. The shopkeeper thanked me as I paid him and I was on my way again.

I kept walking until I was back in the square that I had visited earlier. I noticed Lana exiting her shop and called to her. She smiled and motioned me over. I trotted to where she was standing as carefully as possible without juggling my packages. She laughed as I finally reached her, breathless.

"Are you still shopping?" she asked. I nodded, still too winded to speak. She waited until I could catch my breath and reply.

"I've gotten everything Auron wanted and there's still some gil left, so I'm going to try to get some clothes like he said I could."

Her smile widened. "My brother has come to take over the shop for a while, so if you'd like, I can go with you. You could even leave your stuff here for now since you'll have to go by on the way back."

I grinned, excitement growing in my chest. "I'll probably need help bartering anyway," I agreed. "I don't want to end up paying a day's wages for a pair of socks." She took my bag inside and reappeared in a few minutes with her own sack.

"There are some pretty decent shops around here, but you look as if you'd wear something out of the ordinary."

I laughed and glanced down at my flared jeans and black flowing shirt with Auron's oversized jacket tied around my waist. "Yeah, I've been told I dress more than a little weird."

Lana chuckled. "Different, yes, but I think you'll be creating some new styles in a few months."

We walked towards a small alley I hadn't noticed on my way through earlier. As we drew closer, I saw an old wooden sign that hung from one side of the alley over the stone path.

"This is where a lot of people get their ceremonial and traditional garments," Lana commented. "The Al-Bed couple that owns this place sews everything in here by hand. I think that for some, the traditional clothing suits them best. Not very many could pull it off, but I can't think of any place else to find outfits to match your personality." She smiled at the puzzled look on my face and opened the door. An aged woman looked up from the counter where she was cutting a pattern out of red satin.

"Hello, Makira," Lana said genially. The woman nodded and acknowledged her greeting, but her eyes were fixed on me. "We need to pick up some basic items," Lana continued. "Do you think you can come up with a few things without us having to place an order?" Makira studied me for a moment, then without a word, she walked from behind the counter and began pulling items of clothing from various racks and shelves.

"Makira has a knack for knowing what someone's size and preference is just by looking at them," Lana explained. I watched dumbfounded as Makira finished making her selections and walked over to us. She appeared at least eighty, but there was a firmness in her walk and a fire in her eyes that belied her years. She held the garments in front of me one by one, sizing them up and making comments under her breath that I couldn't quite catch. Finally the old woman seemed content with her decisions and handed me an armful of clothes.

"You can try these on in the back," she spoke for the first time. "Hareem will show you where to go." Seemingly out of nowhere, an old man appeared by my side and took my arm. Lana smiled her reassurance and turned to converse with Makira. I was ushered into a surprisingly well-lit room with a full-length mirror. The old man left as quickly as he had come, and I was left alone with the clothes.

Except for a midnight-blue toga-looking gown and a pair of silk, blood-red pajamas, everything was black, even the under things Makira had discreetly included. My smile grew as I dug deeper. Several sleeveless shirts, all the same cut but with a few additions to vary them, a warm pullover for chilly days, three incredibly comfortable pairs of pants, and the greatest prize of all; a kimono/coat exactly like Auron's except for the depthless black color. I was barely surprised when everything fit perfectly. I decided to wear pants, a sleeveless and my new coat, and placed my old outfit in a bundle with the other clothes. I walked up front with my arms full and a huge grin. The two women turned as I entered the front room and Lana gasped.

"You look like a warrior!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. A small, knowing smile flickered across Makira's face as she tugged me closer for a more thorough inspection. Lana stepped forward and took the items in my arms as I stood waiting for the shop woman's approval.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other self-consciously as she straightened straps and fastened buckles on my coat and pulled at this and that on my pants and shirt. Finally she stepped back and gazed at the final effect. She smiled self-satisfactorily as she walked over to the counter to tally up the final costs. A panicky feeling settled in my stomach as I realized how expensive all this would be. Lana caught the look on my face and quickly stepped forward.

"Makira, would it be possible to send the bill to Sir Auron? We have another errand to run, and it would make things a lot easier." Makira smiled and handed me a bill of sale. It was all I could do to keep from looking at the total, but I managed to fold the paper and place it in an inner pocket in my coat. The old woman reached underneath the counter and came back up with a roll of brown paper. Lana laid the clothing on the flat surface and Makira deftly wrapped them up and tied the package with twine. We thanked her and exited the store.

"What other errand do we have?" I asked as soon as the door had latched behind us. The air had cooled while we were inside and I was suddenly grateful for the extra warmth the coat provided.

Lana looked back at me over her shoulder and replied, "If you're going to look like a warrior, you need the footwear to go with it. Plus, those shoes you have on look a bit beat up, and you'll need slippers for indoors. I don't think Sir Auron does, but many households that you'll visit require you to remove outdoor shoes and replace them with slippers. I know most places provide them, but there's nothing more comfortable than your own."

I nodded. Many homes in modern-day Japan also practiced the tradition and I was very familiar with it. "So where are we going now?"

Lana pointed to a shop beside her own. "They don't specialize in footwear, but they do sell it and the quality of their boots can't be found anywhere else in Spira. If we're lucky, we'll be able to get your slippers and some good leather shoes, too."

We dropped the clothes off at Lana's shop and headed next door. I suddenly recognized the shop as the one where I had met Lobax. I turned to Lana in surprise. "I didn't realize that weapons shops sold shoes."

Lana chuckled. "This shop specializes in suiting the warrior's needs. Anything Sir Auron needs in the line of potions or battle items, he could get here."

My brow furrowed. "Lana, why did Makira dress me as a warrior?"

She bit her bottom lip in concentration. "I'm not sure, but she has always had the ability to see the inner person. Maybe…well, living with Auron, you never know. I mean he is one of the most well-known Sensei in all of Spira, even with all the talk." She picked up a pair of black slippers and handed them to me to try on, then continued. "I don't know what's going to happen, but your coming here is one of the strangest things that has happened in the history of Spira. All I can say is that you can trust Sir Auron. You may not like each other – you may not even get along– but he has been given guardianship of you by his Sensei and I know that he will take care of you. I hope and believe that one day it will be more than his duty, but until then…" she trailed off. "How are the slippers?"

I stuck one foot out in front of me and rotated it. "They're nice. How about those shoes over there?" She leaned over, grabbed one and offered it to me. I pulled off the slippers and slid into the softest leather I'd ever imagined. My eyes nearly rolled back into my head and Lana laughed heartily.

"I think Auron just bought a pair of shoes." We chuckled for a moment, then she motioned an employee over. "Do you have boots that will fit her?"

The teenage boy leaned over and examined my feet, then nodded. "I think I could find some in the back room. Wait out here just a sec." We sat in silence until he brought back a pair of heavy leather boots with thick soles. "Try these," he said, "and if they don't work, we have a few other sizes." He studied me while I unbuckled the straps on the mid-calf boots.

"They seem comfortable enough," I said, trying on the right boot and placing weight on my foot. "I think once they're broken in, they'll be just fine. Why all the buckles instead of laces?" I queried while sliding into the left boot. Lana glanced up at the boy for an answer. He stood there silently, then suddenly realized we were waiting for an answer.

"Oh, I'm s-sorry," he stuttered. "The warriors like the buckles because of how quick they are to fasten and unfasten." He looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes and hesitated. "I hate to pry, but I know nearly every warrior in Spira, and I don't recognize you. You wouldn't happen to be Al-Bed, would you?" I shook my head, puzzled, as Lana straightened from where she had been tightening my boot straps.

"She's not a warrior just yet," she explained, giving me a sly look. "She's staying with Auron."

The boy's eyes widened. "Sir Auron! He is one of our best customers. Please, let me go get my uncle. He will want to meet you." He hurried off into the back again as we stared after him.

"I do believe," I said slowly, "he is the first person I've met all day that didn't know I live with Auron." Lana smiled sympathetically as the boy returned with a man in his late thirties. Recognition flashed in his eyes.

"I remember you! You were in here with Sirs Auron and Lobax. I must thank you for intervening last night. Please, accept these items as a gift for your assistance in preventing what could have been a disaster." He bowed deeply, and I returned the gesture. I opened my mouth to refuse, but he insisted. "Please, you must. I would be much offended if you refused. Sir Auron is a much respected man in my shop, so it is an honor to help his ward."

I thanked him deeply as he boxed up the footwear. His nephew hovered around, helping here and there as much as he could. I shouldered the package as both of them thanked us again and escorted us the door. I waited until we were in Lana's shop again, then turned to her.

"Lana," I said, "why did the boy next door ask if I was Al-Bed?" She grabbed my first pack and hoisted it over her shoulder.

"Here, I'll walk you home." We stepped out into the waning sun and started walking. "Because," she finally said, "some people have problems with the Al-Bed. They don't like them because they believe that the Al-Bed have rejected the old ways."

"Wait a minute," I said suddenly, "didn't you tell me that the couple who runs the clothing place is Al-Bed?"

Lana sighed. "Yes, they are, and they could do so much better with their shop if there wasn't all this nonsense between the Al-Beds and Yevonites."

"So which one is Auron?" I asked curiously.

Lana grinned over her shoulder at me, then grew thoughtful. "He's never really identified himself with either. He practices many of the older Yevonite traditions, but seems to have many friends among the Al-Bed. I've never known him to visit the Temple of Yevon other than his work with the young warriors, though. I guess that's really something to ask him yourself," her eyes twinkled mischievously, "if you can gather the courage."

I wrinkled my nose up at her, then gave up and laughed. "I don't think I'll ever do something like that. I can't imagine being familiar enough to do that, or even carry on a civil conversation – make that any conversation at all. The man never talks unless he's angry. Boy, he has plenty to say then. I don't know if…" my eyes grew huge as two draft horse sized birds trotted down the street with riders. "What in the world are those! I asked, stunned.

Lana turned to me in surprise. "You mean you've never seen a chocobo?" I shook my head mutely. "The knights use them to patrol the borders of Spira. They're a little slower than horses, but they're hardy and easy to care for. Plus, they can go for miles without a rest." She chuckled and pulled me across the street as I gaped after the knights.

I shook my head in amazement and sighed. "I don't think I'll ever get used to life here. Everything's so different, so foreign. I feel like I've stepped outside of myself and I'm watching all this from somewhere else." I laughed under my breath. "Listen to me, I sound so pitiful. I don't mean to be ungrateful. I know that, even though he may have been forced out of respect to take me in, he has tried to be aware of my needs and all." Lana nodded, knowing who he was. "I guess I just need to stop complaining and deal with it," I continued. "It's not like life has suddenly gone bad. Yeah, it's different, but I've never had trouble adapting before, so I guess I can learn to do it now."

"That's the spirit!" she exclaimed excitedly. "It's going to be awesome having you here. I'll show you all around Bevelle and introduce you to everyone I know!"

I smiled weakly. "I don't know that I'll make very good company, but it sounds like fun."

"It will be, you'll see. And don't worry about Auron. It'll just take some time for the two of you to get used to each other." She grinned at me as we crossed the street in front of Auron's house and started towards the alley – and my new life.