Chapter 4: Conclusion of The Trip

Summary: This is the last chapter! I know….saddening, isn't it? Anyway, Auron and Rikku finally get to the Calm Lands, but while they wait for the others, Auron has to decide how to deal with his REALLY, REALLY big problem and how to tell Rikku about it…..

"Whoa! This place is huge!" Rikku exclaimed as she stared over the Calm Lands at last. She and Auron were waiting for the others near a ridge when Rikku was looking for a plant herb for the cut Auron got while fighting the Behemoth herd. She hadn't even see how badly the cut was, however, but the only reason she knew it was there was because the man's coat was stained and it rubbed off on her hair and arm.

And Auron was beginning to regret ever kissing the girl at all. And it wasn't because she was so young, or that he didn't like her, because he really did, he just didn't know it yet. But it was because he was dead, unsent by summoners and was left behind so that he could aid Yuna to in her travels to defeat Sin once and for all. It wasn't right, for him to do this to her.

It wasn't right for the dead to interact with the living, he thought.

He stared over at the girl, realizing how beautiful she was, how beautiful her soul was and how much he wanted her to be happy. He'd never wanted such a thing for anyone before, and now, to be with someone who made him feel so alive… And to leave her so quickly.

Rikku, on the other hand, wasn't very anxious to see everyone again. She knew that there was no way of ever gaining everyone's respect, but she found something more important to be happy about. She turned to Auron and smiled cheerfully. He was looking at her, of course, and she didn't mind it at all. The girl quickly strolled over and sat beside the man, leaning her head onto his shoulder and sighed happily, closing her eyes and trying to relive the kiss in her mind and wondering when the next time she would be able to experience it again.

"Rikku…" Auron said after a few minutes of silence and the girl looked up at him with her wide green eyes. Auron was trying not to look down at her, maybe because of guilt or that wonderful feeling in his stomach when he looked into her swirled eyes, but it wasn't because he hated the Al Behd anymore. "This isn't right."

"What?" She asked innocently, and the man sighed heavily. "We aren't doing anything, but if you wanna do something really bad, I might be up for it!" Her teasing was one of a kind, the man thought.

"No… This! We…shouldn't be together." Auron turned away and Rikku lifted her head from his shoulder and was confused.

"Hey, Auron…You don't have to worry about it. WE don't have to tell anyone about this. It can just be our little secret! Or is it my pop that's got you so worried! You don't have to care about that, cause if he does or says anything, then I'm gonna--"

"No….that's not it."

"Oh…Then….is it cause you're an old foggy, cause you're not that old. We're actually the same age that my mom and pop got together! Well, she was a bit older and my pop was a bit younger, but we're practically okay!"

"Rikku…Do you believe that sometimes the unsent…can stay unsent forever?"

Rikku didn't know what to make of the question, but she thought about it for some time. "Auron, I don't understand. What do you mean by that. Unsent usually become fiends, unless you're talking about the maesters. Man, were they creepy. I cant believe they were all unsent!"

"Rikku--"

"And Yunie! Is she married to Seymour? Really? Is she? That would be really sick, hooking up with a dead guy!"

"Rikku…" Auron was getting that familiar feeling to take Rikku's head off with his sword again, his hand was tightening around the hilt.

"But…then again, I'm glad that they aren't like you. Maybe you weren't dead long enough to go crazy like they did."

"Rikku, Seymour has only been dead for a short time and-- Wait, what did you say!" He turned his head at her in shock, his glasses fell off of his face and into her lap. Rikku carefully picked up the glasses and placed them onto his face, then poked his nose a couple times, giggling.

"Silly, you're going to lose your glasses that way if you're not careful." Auron must've been imagining things, because he was sure that Rikku said something to the effect of Auron being unsent! The girl smiled up at the man, then laid her head back down on his shoulder.

It was another few minutes of silence before Auron could gather his wits again, and looked down at Rikku. She was in her own little world again, possibly thinking of him and that kiss. Finally, he asked.

"Rikku, what was it that you said before?" She removed her head from his shoulder again and looked into his eyes.

"You're going to lose your glasses?"

"No…"

"How silly you are?"

"You didn't even mention--"

"How delicious your tongue is when you do that swirly thing?"

"……………………" There was nothing he could say about that. Rikku laughed at Auron, happy to know that he could be so easily embarrassed like that. She never knew saying something so complimentary could cause the man to turn such a bright red. It was absolutely adorable. It took his another few minutes to gather his wits again. "Rikku, I was talking about what you said about the Maesters."

"The Maesters? Yeah, they're crazy!"

"And then you said something about me?"

"You mean you being unsent, yeah!"

"How…do you know that I am unsent?"

Rikku was still staring at him, with that big, goofy smile on her face. She giggled again and then took her hand into the man's glove.

"Do you really think that I wouldn't know?"

"But…how?"

"Auron, the Farplane. You were scare to go into the Farplane. Everyone else but me were going in, and then I found out you weren't going either. I kinda thought that it was funny, and watched you. You looked really sick while we were waiting, and I concerned about you."

"……That really doesn't mean a thing."

"Yep, but pyroflies do! They always gather around those who were sent, creating illusions of the person who was sent for those to see them! And, the Guado did say that they have a strong sense for the Farplane." Rikku's smile only made the man cringe inside.

"Still, that doesn't say anything about me being unsent."

"Auron…. My mom died a long time ago, but she…. She was unsent for awhile. We had to wait a few days…in order to find a summoner who would even consider sending my mom. We found out that…. You don't automatically become a fiend. Those who become fiends…. They're usually lost souls, their hearts taken over by some kind of darkness. Only those who never lived for good, and always find their way to the darkness….are overcome and become fiends. The followers of Yevon, The Maesters…. They made up all of this foolishness…. Just so they could scare the fools of this world into believing that no one is safe unless they follow Yevon."

"…..The Al Behd know many things about Yevon, it seems." Auron stared down at Rikku, a small smile hidden under that large coat's collar. Rikku blew a raspberry at the man, then giggled.

"Helps if you believe in other things. You don't need some stupid old men who believe in one thing to tell you how to live your life, you know? There are a lot of inconsistencies in Yevon. But a lot of people don't care. I guess some people just need something to believe in."

Rikku stared out into the Calm Lands and sighed. Auron looked out as well, thinking. "When did you start using big words?" He asked jokingly, and Rikku pouted, scowling up at him with that face.

"Hey! I've always known big words! You guys never want to listen to me!…." Auron looked back down at her with a laugh.

"But I am listening now, aren't I?" Rikku thought.

"…Yeah?"

"Then there is no need to be concerned with what anyone else says or does to you?"

"…Yeah! I guess not, huh? As long as I have you, I have nothing to worry about!" Auron's hidden smile was gone and he sighed.

"Rikku….we cannot be together. That is that."

"Aw…but why?"

"Isn't it explained enough? I am unsent, and you are alive."

"Auron! Why can't you look on the bright side of things? Look, if we can finish up the pilgrimage and keep Yunie from dying, then maybe we can stay together?"

"Rikku…."

"And if we're really good to each other….we can be sent together someday?"

"……" He could say anything. The girl's words had touched him a way he hadn't imagined. She was actually considering having a life with the dead, a ghost. How could such a young girl expect a man of his sorts to be so earnest about staying with her, even after death? Was she in love or something, or maybe she'd drank something that was making her delusional again.

"Auron?" She called after a long silence. Auron's eyes went back to hers and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Let's wait for this to be over, and then we will see about the future…. Our future." Rikku smiled at him and leaned against him. And he knew that it was wrong to play on the heart of such a young and innocent girl, but it was the only thing to get her to shut her up. And she really would be a good companion for him, now that he'd gotten to know her, but it wasn't his plan to find a mate, not now. Somehow, he needed to find a way to get Yuna to send him. That was his ultimate goal after all. He wanted that peace, that eternal rest. And in order to obtain it, he would need Yuna's inadvertent help in it all.

And it would be sad to see….that face on Rikku when that time comes, but it must. It was a way of life, after all…. He really didn't want to leave, but explaining it to Rikku was impossible, in his mind anyway.

It wasn't long before he could hear the distant chatter of their estranged companions become louder. The man stood up, bringing Rikku with him, and gave her a short-lived kiss and allowing her to see his feigned smile. Rikku smiled back and the two waited for their "friends," Rikku looking excited as she sat on a large rock with Auron's back turned to everyone but himself. Tidus and Yuna were the first to come over and look at the two, then each other before confronting them.

"Where were you two? We were looking all over for you, you know?" Tidus said, worry displayed on his face. Auron huffed and thought, not even caring for a reply.

"We fell off the airship cause of my stupid pops!" Rikku said, causing everyone to stare at her for a moment, then turn back to Auron. She smiled, not worried anymore about what they were saying at all. She turned to the sky and sighed, then Kimahri walked over to her.

"Rikku well?" He asked. She looked down at him and nodded.

"Yep! I'm just fine now. Thanks Kimahri!"

"Rikku not be sad anymore…. There is no need for that now."

"Huh?"

"Everyone was worried about Rikku. Afraid that Auron might kill Rikku." Rikku laughed and shook her head, then Kimahri walked back to the group. Nobody else went to talk to Rikku, but instead discussed what their next move should be. Rikku didn't mind it anymore. She was going to have her cousin saved, and even have a happy ending that every girl could ever dream of, and if he pissed her off, she could just tell Yuna that Auron was trying to join Yevon! (That's just enough to get the girl started…)

After a few minutes, everyone was ready to go, not worried if the Guado were truly behind them or not. But just before leaving, Auron, who was always leading the group on the old trails, waved for Rikku to join him.

The girl was happy to join.

The End