We walked just a couple of blocks to a corner shop and caught a ride to a neighborhood section of the city with wide streets and lush yards. The cab-like hovercraft dropped us off in front of a luxurious-looking apartment complex. I was mildly surprised at the difference between Auron's and Tiorak's dwellings. Auron seemed to prefer an austere life. Tiorak obviously liked a little comfort, but I suspected that his wife had more to do with that than he might care to admit.

I trotted along behind the others up a broad sidewalk on the right of the building and to a beautifully etched mahogany door. Tiorak opened the door and ushered us inside. We slipped off our shoes and slid into slippers as comfy as the ones I had bought. The living room was lit by soft lamps and everything shone with a homey glow. Cylie settled us into an overstuffed couch and went into the kitchen to mix drinks.

Auron and Tiorak began discussing various missions and outpostings they had been on and I listened in intently. They spoke of potions and spells like 'Haste' and 'Power Break' and things I wouldn't understand for months to come. My feelings grew stronger that this was not only a different world, it was also a different dimension, a place where magic, not strength or weapons, ruled, and danger lay as close as your front door, especially for warriors.

A wave of homesickness swept over me, and I struggled to keep back the tears. I just wanted to wake up in my own room, in my own bed. Japan had been strange for my American Midwestern self, but nothing like this, where even the basic rules of physics had no influence. I was a foreigner like I had never been before, but at the same time, something drew me to this dimension. I was curious to discover a level of existence I had never dreamed of. It was the chance of a lifetime, but I didn't enjoy not having a choice or not knowing if I could ever return home.

I noticed abruptly that the conversation had halted and jerked out of my reverie. Cylie was looking at me expectantly, and I realized I must have been asked a question.

"Wh…What?" I stammered. I grinned sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I was totally spacing out."

Cylie smiled and repeated, "I was asking if you prefer wine or sake."

"Oh, sake, definitely," I stated. Cylie nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, returning in seconds with pottery mugs filled to the brim. She passed them around and settled by Tiorak. He smiled and grabbed her free hand, pulling it into his lap and giving it a squeeze. I smiled to myself at the two of them. It was obvious they were newlyweds. Both still had that glow about them, and I envied their happiness. They had found a place of peace in each other, a calm that had eluded me all my life.

We stayed and chatted until Auron glanced up at the clock on the wall. I followed his gaze and was shocked to see that it was past midnight. We had been here for a couple hours, but it felt much shorter. Tiorak caught me and I looked away hastily, afraid that I had offended my hosts, when Tiorak spoke up.

"Cylie, I'm afraid we've kept our guests much too late, and Auron has to be at the temple early. We really should let them get going."

"Oh dear, you're right. Let me just call a cab real quick." Auron opened his mouth to argue, but Cylie cut him off. "It's way too far for you two to walk and you do have to be up at the crack of dawn."

Auron reluctantly nodded and Cylie disappeared into the kitchen. He stood up and moved towards the door. Tiorak and I followed his lead, and the three of us stood there chatting amicably until Cylie returned.

"Your ride will be here in a few minutes." She smiled at me. "It's been lovely having you here, dear. We see so little of Auron during the training period, so it's nice that he has an excuse to come over a little more often. Don't let his hesitance slow you down, though. I'm here alone during the day for the most part, so if you ever need anything, even if it's just someone to chat with, just head on over."

"Thanks, I will," I said appreciatively. We stood there in silence for a moment, then a horn honked outside. Cylie and I jumped reflexively and laughed. Auron and I removed our slippers and put our boots back on.

"Well, thanks, you two, for coming over," Tiorak said. "Auron, I'll probably be stopping by tomorrow. Also, Yefrat wants a report on who the most promising warriors-in-training are. I know how much you love dealing with him, so I promised I'd check things out. I'll try to make it to a few training sessions this week and let him know."

Auron nodded, and I saw a look of gratitude flash across his face for a split second. I wondered curiously what the relationship was between him and this mysterious Yefrat. I started to ask, but Auron was guiding me out the open door to a waiting vehicle that was similar to the one we had arrived in. I waved goodbye to the couple standing in the doorway until we were out of sight. I sighed and settled back into my seat. Auron sat silent in the seat beside me. My eyes began to droop and, exhausted, I soon drifted off into a heavy slumber.

The dreams that came to me as I slept were dark and vicious. Everything I had ever feared returned to haunt me, appearing in forms too terrifying to conceive. I tried to claw my way to consciousness, but the shadows pulled me down, suffocating me. I was drowning in the blitzball sphere, or I was falling out of the sky with the ground rushing towards me

I saw the wolf that had attacked me, except now he was black, with eyes glowing red and jaws dripping blood. I turned and ran, tripping over vines and running into overhanging branches. Things shifted around me like a vortex, and suddenly I was struggling with my abusive father, shielding my face with my hands, trying to block the blows. He leaned in towards me, and as he did, his face shifted, and I found myself looking deep into the cold eyes of Lobax.

Iron hands gripped my upper arms, and confused consciousness returned to me with a jolt. My eyes flew open, but everything was dark. I fought my captor violently, trying to wrestle my arms free. I felt the grip break, and took advantage of the opening. I braced myself with my hands and kicked as hard as I could. My feet met my opponent's stomach and the breath left him in a whoosh. He flew backwards out of the car…Wait a minute, car? Reason hit my frenzied mind, and as my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw Auron flat on his back in the grass outside his house. I scooted hastily out of the vehicle. I could hear our driver laughing out of control and mortification flooded me.

Auron shoved himself into a sitting position, then, ignoring my proffered hand, leapt to his feet. Without a word he walked to the driver's window and handed him the fare. "She's a feisty one, eh?" the man remarked. "You look like the type of man that can handle her, though. Should be an enjoyable night." He winked suggestively at Auron, who narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"She's my ward, not my girlfriend," he rumbled, snatching the change from the driver's hand.

The man foolishly ignored the storm in Auron's eyes and continued, "Even better. You can keep her under control and it's legal." He laughed, then yelped as Auron, lightening quick, grabbed the man, wrapping his powerful fingers around the now terrified driver's throat.

"If you value your life at all," he growled into the man's face, "you'll appreciate the chance I'm giving you." The driver nodded frantically and Auron went on. "You will leave here, you will quit your job, and if you ever see me again, you will run in the opposite direction until your heart explodes." He leaned in closer and glared at the man over the top of his tinted lenses. "Trust me. If I ever catch you, it will be worse than death."

He released his grasp. The vehicle zoomed away, taillights disappearing in the darkness. I stood there in stunned silence as Auron strode past me and into the house. I followed at a much slower pace, dreading what was sure to come. As I walked through the gate, a light flickered on in Auron's room. I entered the house and closed the door behind me, cringing inside. As I crossed the room, Auron came out of the bedroom. He had shed his coat and shirt and the muscles in his chest and arms rippled as he walked directly towards me. I stopped and stood nervously, waiting for his reprimand. I really shouldn't be worried. It's not like any of that was my fault. Then again, I did kick him clear out of the cab…oh, yeah, I should be worried.

Auron cleared his throat. "I owe you an apology," he said gruffly.

I goggled at him. "Me?"

He nodded. "I never should have woken you like that," he continued. "If someone had done that to me, I might have responded in a similar manner." He paused and, I could have sworn, shuffled his feet. "I also think I should apologize for the actions of our driver. It was highly inappropriate of him to make those statements and that conclusion."

He stopped and leaned in towards me, studying me closely. "You were having a nightmare, weren't you?"

I nodded affirmatively. That sticky, panicky feeling I had experienced in my dream returned, settling deep in my stomach. Auron opened his mouth to say something else, then changed his mind. He turned and started back towards the bedroom.

"What is Lobax's problem with you?"

My question stopped him dead. Without turning around he said in a low tone, "Where did you hear that?"

I swallowed hard, but plunged ahead. "Well, it was obvious from last night that he doesn't like you and Cylie said if I wanted to find out why, I'd have to ask you. She said it wasn't hers to say."

Auron turned around slowly, the low light casting harsh contours into his rugged face and chest. He stared at me for a moment, then said sharply, "She was right. It isn't hers to say, nor is it yours to know. It's my business and it will stay my business, and if you know what's good for you, you won't go asking around about it. It's in the past. There's nothing left to say." He gazed hard at me for another second or so, then went into his room and closed the door firmly.

I made my bed up then took a quick shower. The hot water pulsed around me and helped clear some of the confusion and turmoil that swirled in my mind. Things had been going so much better, and then I had to go and open my big mouth! I stood in the shower, letting the steaming water cascade down my back. I was reluctant to get out, but it was extremely late and I had a feeling I would be getting up at dawn for a very long time. I toweled off and slipped into my new pajamas, then shut off the light. I crawled in between the blankets and lay there, shifting for an hour or so, until I eventually fell asleep.

--------------------------------------------------

When I woke the next morning the sun was high over the trees. I flung off the covers and sat up. Auron's door was slightly ajar and I could tell at a glance that he had already left. I wonder why he didn't wake me. I got up and looked around for some kind of note or instructions that he may have left, but didn't see anything. I yawned and stretched luxuriously. I grabbed an outfit from my closet and ducked into the bathroom to get dressed. Rummaging around through the cabinets a bit, I found a soft brush and ran it through my chin-length ash-colored hair.

As I walked from the bathroom to the kitchen, I glanced out the glass door and stopped. Auron was standing out in the large bamboo dojo on a woven grass mat. He was shirtless and dressed in baggy, white cotton pants. His long hair had been released from its braid and flowed loose around his shoulders and down his back, and his eyes were unshielded. He appeared to be going through some sort of kata, and I couldn't help but pull the door open a crack and watch.

He executed his moves gracefully and, as far as I could tell, without error. Discipline and control were manifested in a performance like none I had ever seen. Muscles flowed with a smoothness that belied his strength. I don't know how long I observed, awed by what I was seeing.

As he moved, I noticed white scars running along his chest and across his back. Many of them were less than six inches long, but several were massive and looked as if the wounds had been extremely painful. I wondered about the missing eye and a strange sadness filled me. For the first time, I felt respect for my guardian. I began to comprehend the hard life of a warrior. Something akin to longing grew in my chest.

With a jolt, I realized that Makira had been right. This was what I wanted, to feel power coursing through me and be able to control it, to be one with body and soul and mind. I wanted to fight, to defend against evil, to have a place here in this strange world, something I had never accomplished in my own.

Tokyo seemed a lifetime away. The past two days I had adjusted like I never thought I would, but I knew I wanted more. I missed my family in the States, and my friends everywhere, but I knew in a flash of insight that my destiny was here, in Spira, as a warrior! Now I understood what the old man at the temple had seen and my heart ached for something I had never known. My chances were few but I was determined to create a new future for myself.

Suddenly Auron turned and looked directly at me. I smothered a surprised yelp and stepped back behind the curtain. Stupid, stupid! I berated myself. Like he hasn't already seen you? How childish can you get! I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and slid open the door, stepping out onto the sun-warmed grass. He stood with his back to me, surveying a large assortment of weapons laid out on a wooden table. Most were wooden and pretty harmless, but there were several long knives and a couple lethal-looking swords.

I stopped about ten yards away and released my breath. Auron continued to ignore me and picked out two wooden staffs about seven feet long. He examined both of them carefully, looking down the lengths of them and checking for warps or faults. I quietly settled onto the grass, watching him closely.

"I see we have an audience." The chuckle startled me. I twisted my neck around and saw Tiorak crossing the grass towards me. He was dressed in pants similar to Auron's, but was wearing a flowing white sleeveless shirt. He crouched down beside me. "I think we have a budding warrior on our hands, Auron." He winked at me and I grinned. Auron grunted something indiscernible and Tiorak laughed.

"I thought Auron had to teach at the temple today," I whispered to Tiorak. "You did say he had to be there early."

He raised an eyebrow at me and replied, "He did, but not to teach. It's Saturday."

"Oh. I guess I've kinda lost track of the days."

"Well, it's been a rough couple of days for you. Auron told me what happened last night. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Bevelle is a great city, but even here there are people like your driver. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

I shrugged. "I've heard worse. Trust me, it's not the first time I've had something crude said to or about me. Being on my own so much has pretty much gotten me used to it."

"Still, it's inexcusable. No man should ever speak of a woman like that." Tiorak's face grew mischievous. "Auron told me he 'reprimanded' the man. He scared the hell out of him, didn't he?"

I started laughing. "Yeah, you could say that." I glanced up at Auron, who had finished scrutinizing the staffs and was busy plaiting his hair back into a thick braid.

"Are we going to practice or are you going to sit there chatting?" His brusque voice cut in on our discussion and Tiorak straightened up hurriedly. He flashed me a smile and walked into the dojo. Auron wrapped a leather thong around the end of his braid and tossed Tiorak a staff. They faced each other, bowed, and assumed battle positions. The air was still as they stared at each other, then Auron barked a word I didn't catch and they swung. A loud crack split the silence as their staffs collided!

They moved with grace and ease, dodging and twisting, spinning and whirling while I watched, entranced. Auron was clearly the stronger of the two, with muscles that bulged and swelled when he swung or blocked, but Tiorak's speed and agility exceeded Auron's and made them a nearly equal match. Occasionally a soft grunt and the sound of wood striking solid flesh could be heard as a blow landed unimpeded, but other than that the men were silent, too engrossed in their mock battle for talk.

After about fifteen minutes of intense fighting the men showed no signs of tiring, though both glistened with sweat. I was nearly convinced it would end in a draw when Auron made a sudden move. As Tiorak came in for a swing, Auron ducked right, forcing him to overextend his thrust and leaving the warrior exposed. Auron took advantage of the opening and flung his shoulder into Tiorak's chest, who flew through the air and landed hard on his back. Before he could recover, Auron stood over him, staff pointed at his throat.

"That's a kill," he said in a barely audible tone, then offered his free hand and hauled Tiorak to his feet. The two men bowed again and Tiorak handed his weapon to Auron, who returned both staffs to their places. I leapt to my feet as both walked across the grass towards me. Tiorak was still breathing heavily, and wisps of hair had come loose from Auron's braid and around his face.

"So do you guys do that every weekend?" I asked curiously.

"All warriors have to keep in shape and that can be hard to do when we're at in-town postings," Tiorak replied. The men walked to the house and I followed. "Because of the slight possibility of confronting a fiend in Bevelle, many warriors tend to get soft and a bit spoiled. Of course, it's easier for Auron, since he trains the young men, but I like to get some hard combat in at least several times a week. We'll have another go at it later today or tomorrow, too."

We entered the house and Auron headed to the bedroom while Tiorak made himself at home in the kitchen. "Did you want something cold to drink?" he asked. I nodded and watched him pour three glasses brimful with a chilled, carbonated liquid. He handed me one and I took a cautious sip. A fruity flavor reminiscent of cherries filled my mouth and I took a larger swallow.

"Do you and Auron get sent to outpostings together much?"

"Well, we were on a patrol when we met you. That's pretty often, but I've never been stationed at the same posting out of town as him. Usually, an older warrior like Auron is paired with younger, less experienced warriors or warriors-in-training."

"Did Auron ever teach you?"

Tiorak laughed. "Aren't you full of questions. No, Auron was never my Sensei. He was originally taught long ago by one of the greatest Sensei Spira has ever seen. My teacher, the man you saw at the temple, took over after the Great One died. Auron is a legend, but he's a mysterious legend. Even those like myself who are considered among his closest friends know very little about him."

I took another drink as we walked to the couch and sat down. I contemplated asking Tiorak about what Lobax had said, but, remembering Auron's reproof the night before, decided not to. We sat in silence for a few minutes until Auron emerged from his room. He had changed into gray pants and a shirt and apparently re-braided his hair. Tiorak handed the 'mysterious legend' a glass and Auron drank half of it in one long gulp.

"Who's Yefrat?"

Tiorak glanced at me in surprise. "You mentioned him last night," I reminded him. He nodded and set his glass on the coffee table. Auron leaned against the wall by the bathroom door and sipped at the remaining half of his drink.

"Yefrat is a high priest here in Bevelle," Tiorak explained. "He's in line to inherit the title of Exalted High Priest, but he's not the only one. Unfortunately, he tends to forget or perhaps ignore that small detail. The fact is, he is a very influential person and he's not easy to deal with, so pray to Yevon you never meet him under less than perfect circumstances."

I glanced at Auron, who was busy studying a tree in the yard. His jaw was clenched but I think I saw a hint of sadness in his eye. I wondered what his 'less than perfect' encounter with Yefrat had been.

Tiorak stood abruptly. "I need to get back. Cylie wanted me to run some errands for her, and she'll be exasperated if I show up without anything." He turned to face me. "She said to tell you 'Hi' for her and she hopes you'll come over again soon." I walked him to the door while Auron remained where he was, looking off into the distance. "Auron, I'll try to stop back by later on today, but if I can't make it, plan on seeing me tomorrow." The dark-haired warrior nodded and Tiorak left.

Auron pushed himself away from the wall and carried his empty glass to the kitchen. "Lana stopped by earlier while you were asleep. She wanted you to know she doesn't work today and would like to show you around downtown. I told her you'd had a long night so I wasn't going to wake you, but I'd let you know. She wants you to meet her at the store."

"Will that be a problem?"

"It's okay with me, if that's what you mean. I don't have anything for you to do here, so go ahead. If you absolutely need to pick up anything, charge it to my account." He raised an eyebrow at me that made me want to shrivel up on the spot. "I can trust you'll keep your purchases moderate?"

I nodded. I was surprised at how easily I had gotten off on the huge clothing purchase and knew the last thing I wanted to do was push my luck any farther. Auron released me from his gaze and I nearly raced out the door.

It took less than twenty minutes to make it to the square. I ducked into Lana's shop and smirked as I saw her kneeling across the room with her back to me. I tiptoed up behind her, careful not to betray my presence. I reached down and grabbed her shoulder. She let out an ear-piercing shriek and spun around, losing her balance and sitting down hard. I collapsed in giggles and she joined in.

"I got your message," I said, pulling her to her feet once we had gained control of ourselves. "What did you have in mind?"

"I just wanted to show you some of my favorite hang-outs and stuff. I figured you might be kinda bored. Also, since Auron doesn't work today and will be home for the most part, I thought you two might need a little space."

"Yeah, I'd really rather not be there alone with him all day."

A mischievous glitter shone in her eyes. "Aww, I think you two would be so cute, keeping house together. You could wash the dishes and he could dry," she cooed.

I glared at her. "You know, I think there's a sadistic streak in you," I growled.

Lana smirked impishly and shrugged. "You never know, one of these lonely nights…" She yelped and scrambled out of the way as I swung at her.

"You're almost as bad as that driver last night," I complained as she danced out of reach around me tauntingly.

She stopped and raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question. I lunged at her just as she sidestepped out of my path. I flew past her and into some shelves, sending bottles flying. Several of the larger ones shattered with a loud crash and we stood there, wide-eyed, as potion mixes splattered all over the floor.

"Oh no, he's gonna kill me," Lana gasped. I started to ask who when I heard a male voice from the back.

"Lana!"

We looked at each other and gulped. She grabbed a broom from a closet and I was right on her tail with a mop and bucket. We were standing guiltily over the mess when a vaguely familiar-looking blond man in his late twenties came in from a back room. We froze as his eyes roamed silently over the room. Bottles rolled across the floor, potion oozing from cracks in several and spreading into large puddles, and what containers were left on the shelf I had hit were tilting precariously, ready to fall at any minute.

"And I just got done organizing those, too. Lana, how could you!" he groaned almost desperately. She started to explain but I stepped forward.

"I'm afraid it's my fault. I'm a terrible klutz and I just tripped right into that shelf. I'm awfully sorry," I said contritely.

"And you are…?" he queried.

"Jyrie!" Lana exclaimed, exasperated. "This is the girl staying with Sir Auron! I told you this morning that she was coming over and we were going to go out for a while, remember?"

The man's eyes lit up and he smiled broadly. "Right, right." He turned to me and extended a hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jyrie, Lana's older brother."

I nodded and smiled back. No wonder he looks familiar.

"Your arrival has made quite the commotion. As for Lana, she's done nothing but talk about you since she met you."

"Jyrie!" Lana hissed, blushing furiously.

I laughed at the teasing wink he gave me as he walked over to his sister and draped an arm around her shoulders, then stuck his foot out in front of him. Potion dripped from the toe of his shoe and he grimaced distastefully. "I don't suppose you two want to tell me what happened in here?" he inquired, raising his eyebrows.

"Not really, and if you'd care to get out of the way, we'd like to get this cleaned up so we can leave," Lana stated firmly.

Jyrie raised his hands in defense. "Okay, okay, I'll go back to my corner." He walked around behind the counter and rested his arms on the polished wood. "So Lana tells me you and Auron aren't the best of friends. How have things been going?"

I shrugged. "Okay, I suppose. I mean, we haven't really gotten into any full-blown arguments, but it's like every time I think we might be able to get along, I go and say or do something to piss him off." I knelt down to hold the dustpan for Lana as she scooped sticky shards of glass into it. "It's starting to get really exasperating. Like last night, we went to the blitzball game…"

"So what did you think?" Lana interrupted

"It's really cool. It looks like a lot of fun," I grinned. "Actually," I continued, "It all started after the game."

I told them everything that had happened, mopping up spilled potions as I talked. When I got to the part about the psycho fan, Lana busted out laughing, and even Jyrie had a huge grin on his face.

"By Yevon, I wish I'd been there!" he chuckled.

"Yeah, well Auron didn't look too happy. I'm surprised he didn't say anything about it."

I finished my tale and wrung out the mop. Lana took the bucket to the back to dump and I joined Jyrie at the counter. "I hate to pry, but do you know anything about Auron?"

"Hmm," he contemplated, "not really. I do remember something that happened about ten years ago; some huge political scandal, I don't remember all the details. I was in my teens at the time and didn't really pay much attention to temple affairs. Anyhow, because of what happened I guess Auron made quite a few enemies among the priests of Yevon and even a few warriors. He hasn't gone back to the temple for anything other than warrior duties since."

"Do you have any idea what the scandal was about?"

Jyrie's pleasant face grew solemn.

"I can't say for sure, but I think he killed another warrior."