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A/N: Hello! I want to thank everyone who is reading my story! It is my first fanfic, and I am so excited to have people reading...but no reviews? Show some love! Anyway, continuing with the story.

They're Back!

As much as he hated to admit it, Auron really did miss being alive. He took a moment to take in everything as Tidus "reunited" with Yuna. The wind softly blowing through his hair, the smell of the grass, the feel of the warm sunshine, the impatient tug on his jacket, the feeling of just being alive. Wait a second...

Auron opened his eyes and looked down at a small blonde girl looking up at him with large, teary eyes. She held onto his jacket and was tugging it to get his attention. He was also suprised to find her so close to him. Rikku generally avoided him on the pilgrimage. Not that he could blame her, he had been as she said a big meanie.

"I can't believe you guys are back," she whispered up at him.

Before he could come up with an appropriate response, she let go of his jacket and started jumping up and down.

"THEY"RE BACK!" Rikku repeated her phrase over and over while jumping around Yuna and Tidus. The pair broke apart and laughed with Rikku. Tidus soon joined Rikku in leaping around.

"WE"RE BACK!" Tidus chose to jump around Auron.

Yes, Auron thought, we are back.

The whole village attended a welcome back party Lulu planned later that evening. The villagers were celebrating with good food and music around a giant bonfire, not unlike the night Sin was destroyed. For the first hour or so Tidus and Auron were busy shaking hands and hugging the children ( well..Tidus was hugging children anyway). After the crowd settled into their own activities, the newly reunited guardians and ex-summoner sat around the bonfire and chatted.

"Man, I never thought the six of us would ever sit around a fire together again," Wakka shared.

He had been at a blitzball training session while his wife and friends were out shopping. He returned home when Lulu was showing Tidus and Auron the photo album from the wedding. It took a good hour to convince Wakka that his friends were real.

"Yeah, who would have thought?" Tidus smiled and placed his arm around Yuna's shoulder. Yuna smiled and leaned into him.

"So what exactly happened. I am sure the Farplane is not an easy place to get out of," Lulu, finding most of the villagers had retired to their houses, decided it was a good time to ask what they all wanted to know.

"Yeah! How did you guys do it? Did you get into a fight with some guard?"she had been sitting on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest. Beside her, Auron was lounging in a chair enjoying the feeling of being full after a good meal for the first time in ten years.

"No Rikku," Auron chuckled," we did not get into a fight".

"I will tell you what happened," Tidus began, " I told those fayth what was what. I said 'Let us go or else there will be hell to pay!' Then I pulled out a big, scary, fayth-killing sword and- "

"Tidus!" Yuna yelled, "Stop playing around! We really want to know".

Auron was listening to Tidus' story with amusement and mild annoyance. He was just like his dad, never knows when to be serious. Auron knew Yuna was scared that this wasn't going to be permanent. After all, Tidus already disappeared once before. Then, to his utter shock, Tidus completely proved him wrong.

Tidus turned towards his summoner and took her hand. "Yuna, sweetheart, please don't be afraid. I am here for good. I'm not going anywhere, at least not without you. The fayth let us come back because we helped save them and they wanted to reward us. And you."

Go figure, Auron thought, shaking his head at losing his touch.

Rikku sat calmly for once and listened to her friends talk. Tidus and Auron told them about their time in the Farplane. She heard about Braska and Jecht, the fayth, and everything else. She smiled to herself at their good fortune. Not to long afterwards, she felt herself drift off...

She opened her eyes what seemed like a few moments later, but she knew from the scenery change it must have been a little while longer. The bonfire had died down to a small blaze strong enough to light up her friends and a few feet behind them, but not much else. Tidus and Yuna were sitting together talking in low voices. Wakka was staring off into the distance in what appeared to be thought. Rikku was unsure about that though. Lulu was sleeping peacefully on Wakka's shoulder. Auron was still next...wait where did he go?

"Wakka?" Rikku whispered, "where did Sir Auron go?"

Wakka looked over at his Al-Bhed friend. "He walked over toward the cliff. Said he wanted to stretch his legs, ya."

Rikku nodded her thanks and set off after the legendary guardian. She shivered slightly at the now cool night air. Hmmm...I wonder if he is ok?

Rikku took a moment to adjust her eyes at the darkness outside of the glow of the fire. She finally spotted Auron standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the beach. She hesitated a moment before approaching him, remembering how well they got along on the pilgrimage. I hope being in the Farplane helped his attitude, because I might have to push him off that cliff...

She took a breath, walked up to him, and stood beside him.

Auron felt Rikku approach him and stand next to his left side. He wondered how long she was going to stay quiet. She was standing there for what had to be five seconds now.

"Um..Auron?" Rikku stepped ahead slightly and turned so she faced him, "are you ok?"

Hm, seven seconds. Auron looked over at the small guardian next to him. He saw a curious concern in her eyes. Immediately he felt he didn't deserve it. He remembered the indifference he held toward her during the journey to Zanarkand. Now he was unexpectedly back in life and found shame in things he thought he never had to deal with.

"Ya know it's going to be ok," Rikku told him, "I mean you just come back to life. That is a huge deal! You are probably worried about so much. All this stuff you never thought you would have to deal with again is suddenly thrown at you. But Auron, its ok because you are alive again! You can make amends and just live!"

Auron was shocked through and through. First Tidus, and now Rikku was suddenly spouting wisdom that wasn't about treasure or bubblegum.

"I'm afraid that I may have forgotten how to live Rikku. It has been a very long time."

Rikku smiled up at the older man. "Auron? Can I tell you something?"

"Go ahead"

She turned away from him and looked out to the ocean. "Auron I never got to thank you."

He raised his eyebrows and continued to listen to her.

"You were so mean to me during Yunie's pilgrimage, ya know? I still can't believe you tried to leave me at the Thunder Plains," Rikku turned back to Auron and placed her hand on his chest, "All that aside, I want to thank you for making me a good guardian. Without you teaching me, I might have never helped found away to save Yunie. So thank you".

Auron was touched by her words. He was more touched by the actual touch on his chest. Rikku was being very...he wasn't sure.

"So anyway," Rikku continued, "I think I owe you a favor!"

"What kind or favor..."

"I'm going to teach you how to live!"

A/N: So there was the next chapter. I am going to update in the next few days, so it won't be too long. That is if people are still reading! (Are you reading?) Just a little review? Pwease?