A/N: Hello hello. I told you I'd update tonight. Only one shout out today:( (But to be fair, I gave you guys a whopping 24 hours to read and review)

rr1963: I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your reviews. Each one helps me look at my story from a different point of view. That helps me see where the story needs to go from there. Thank you. Yeah, I haven't played X-2 in a long time so I don't have a good grasp of Gippal. I never read any fics about him either so that's not helping. But the story is not about him, so as long as everyone is believable it's ok. Glad you still enjoy the story:)

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy or it's characters.

Close Encounters of the Farplane Kind

Rikku froze when Gippal kissed her. He kissed exactly how she imagined he would, tasting like sun and sand. Rikku couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that overwhelmed her. The moment Gippal's lips touched hers, she thought of Auron. She found herself wishing that was Auron with her, not Gippal. Oh man, am I in trouble...she thought.

Rikku placed her hand on Gippal's chest and pushed him away as she stepped back slightly.

"Gippal," she said,not knowing how to continue.

"Rikku," he interruped her, "just think about it." Gippal turned away from her and boarded his airship. She waited until he was safely in the air before turning to go to the house. When she returned to the dinning room, Yuna and Lulu were in the middle of cleaning up the meal.

Yuna looked up at her and laughed. "Rikku, why do you have that look on your face?"

Rikku turned her gaze to the decorative mirror on the wall. She looked...confused. "Arrrggg! I hate men."

Lulu laughed at her frustration. "Come on Rikku, sit down and drink this. It will make you feel better." Rikku sat at the table and accepted the hot tea Lulu offered her.

"Thanks Lulu." Rikku smiled at her friends as they sat down with her.

"So what happened today Rikku? Did you talk to Auron? What's going on with Gippal?" Yuna asked.

"I didn't get a chance to," Rikku sighed. "I went to find him earlier and ran into Gippal. As far as I can tell, Gippal came here to ask me out."

"Wow. What did you say?" Yuna said.

"I didn't say anything. He never asked for an answer, he just told me to think about it. I don't know you guys. He told me he wants me to go to Home with him so we can start a life together."

"Is that what you want Rikku?" Lulu asked as she poured Yuna more tea.

Rikku though for a moment.

"No it's not what I want Lulu. I might have wanted that before, I don't know."

"Before what Rikku?" Yuna asked.

Rikku looked at her cousin. "Before I realized that I like Auron."

Yuna and Lulu looked at each other with their mouths hanging open. "Wow Rikku! You really do like him!"

"Well, yeah. I know it's a little weird because it's me and Auron, but it just feels right, ya know?"

Lulu smiled at Rikku. "I understand Rikku. I never thought Wakka and I would make a good match, but something about it is just... right. We just never thought you would admit to it is all."

"Me neither."

"Rikku, what are you going to tell Gippal? Are you going to leave him on hold until you figure this out with Auron?" Yuna asked her cousin.

"No Yuna." Rikku said firmly, "Auron or no Auron, I know I don't want to be with Gippal. If Auron doesn't feel the same, I'm not going to go running to Gippal. I can't do that."

"That's very mature of you Rikku," Lulu told her, "You have learned well."

"Really? Thanks Lulu! Now I have to go speak with Auron. Do you guys know where he is?"

"He went with Wakka and Tidus to Guadosalam to find a blitzball recruit." Yuna told her.

"What! That's...random." Rikku pouted missing her chance for the second time that day.

"Yes it was rather sudden. Tidus and Wakka were discussing going, then Auron left the house after dinner and returned a few minutes later. He talked them into...leaving...tonight..." Lulu suddenly remembered the look on Auron's face when he returned.

"Rikku, did Auron see anything while he was outside that may have upset him?" She asked.

Rikku gasped loudly and clapped her hand to her mouth. She nodded at her friends.


Auron, Wakka, and Tidus arrived at Guadosalam fasted than Auron expected to. Auron was contemplating the best route to take when Wakka pulled out a set of keys.

"What are those to?" he asked.

"My airship." Wakka told him blankly.

"Your airship?" Auron started to wonder if his friend had a substance abuse problem.

"Sir Auron, stop looking at me like that, ya! I'm telling you the truth. It was kinda a gift from Rikku's brother."

"Why would he give you a gift?" Tidus jumped in.

"Well, when I say gift, I mean Rikku and I stole it."

Tidus laughed as Auron shook his head.

"What!" Wakka continued defensively, "It was all Rikku's idea. She said he brother had a small one he had worked on and wasn't using. We thought we would need it more that he would."

Tidus recovered from his laughing fit and took the keys from Wakka. "I'm driving!"

The three men arrived an Guadosalam a little while later. It was very different from the last time Auron and Tidus had visited. Wakka had filled them in on the ship, but they were still half expecting the same dreaded place.

"Okay guys let's go check the inn for our player, ya?" Wakka said as he pointed in the direction of the inn. "Ya listening Auron?"

Auron had been listening. His gaze was directed somewhere about Wakka's head however. "You two go ahead. There is something I want to do first. I'll catch up with you later."

Before Tidus and Wakka could form a thought, Auron had walked away.

"Same old Auron. Come on Wakka, let's go!"


Auron could not believe where he was standing. He knew where he was and why, but he found it hard to grasp the concept he was at the Farplane. He stood on the other side of where he had spent the last two years or more. He felt a little homesick.

Auron sighed and thought about Braska. He needed his old friends help. Braska appeared before him and Auron felt a little lightheaded. He closed his eyes for a moment to relieve the fog. When he opened them back up, he found that he had sank to his knees. What in Spira...

He closed his eyes again, this time in pain.

When he opened them the second time, he found Braska laughing at him.

"Braska, what happened? Did I die again? I have to contact the people at Spira's Book of World Records about this. I'm sure I'll make the cut."

Braska chucked at his friend and offered his hand to help him up. "No old friend you aren't dead. I'm visiting is all."

"When did they start letting that happen?" Auron asked surprised.

"They didn't. The fayth also decided to reward Jecht and myself. We decided to stay on the Farplane under a few conditions. One of which is I get to visit people who come to see me once a year. Tell Yuna I expect to see her next year."

Auron smiled. "I will tell her Braska. She's well, happy finally."

"I am very glad to hear that. Now Auron why did you come. You look like you need a friend to talk to, and please don't be shy Auron. I don't have an infinite amount of time and I don't want this conversation to carry into next year."

Auron sighed. He planned to ask Braska for guidance but didn't actually expect him to answer back. He wondered how he was going to react when he told him about Rikku.

"Well my lord, I am having some difficulties with being alive." Auron answered cryptically.

Braska smiled patiently. "I expected you would Auron. You were never one to know how to really live."

Suddenly Auron could see the family resemblance between Braska and Rikku.

"Yes I suppose you could say that. That is what Rikku told me too."

"How is little Rikku?"

"Well, she is fine..."

"But...?" Braska questioned.

"But she is part of the reason I am here. I game for guidance because I feel something for her."

Braska grinned at Auron. "Auron, are you telling me that you like my little Rikku romantically?"

Auron hesitated. "Yes."

Braska burst out in a rich and deep fit of laughter. "That's fitting Auron. You would go and fall for the one person who is the complete opposite of you. It will probably be good for you."

"Yes, it's very amusing Braska. I just don't know what to do. I'm not sure how to start."

Braska placed his hand on his friends shoulder in a reassuring manner. "Let me start for you. Tell me what has happened thus far."

Auron told his friend all that had happened up to this point. Everything from Rikku's mission to teach him how to live, to her kiss with Gippal. Braska listened and nodded along.

"I know what your problem is Auron." Braska told him.

Auron looked at him waiting for an answer.

"Your afraid Auron. You haven't had to deal with this before. It's called love Auron, welcome to the club."

Auron suddenly felt a surge of annoyance.

"This is love? Braska, with all respect, I seriously doubt that. This is not right. We do not belong together. I don't belong there"

Braska sighed.

"Auron let me tell you something. You are alive. You may not feel like it, and you may not want it, but the fact of the matter is your alive. Unfortunately, you are alive again after you missed a big part of your life. If the average person went to slept at twenty-five and woke up thirteen years later, who knows how they would react. But you are not average Auron. You have saved the world and become a hero. You are responsible for the happiness of thousands of people. How can you feel like an outcast in a world you saved?"

Auron felt his friend's words hit home. He remembered the first day he was back. People in the village threw him a party. They were truly happy to have him return. He remembered he was too busy feeling out of place to actually realize he was where he should be.

"Braska, thank you."

Braska smiled. "Rikku is another matter entirely. I am going to take a guess at what is in you heart since your not going to tell me. I imagine you are feeling a little foolish. You feel like you made a big mistake kissing her. You are wondering that you possibly ruined a friendship with the one person who understands how you feel. You think that she could never fall for you because you are so much older. You wonder how you measure up to this Gippal fellow."

Auron stood in disbelief. That is exactly how he felt!

Braska laughed at the look on his friends face. "Don't look so shocked Auron. I have been through the same thing before."

"You have?"

"Yes, with Yuna's mother. I wondered how an Al-Bhed could every love me. Our beliefs clashed, everything about us seemed like it wouldn't work. But we fit. If you and my niece fit, you have nothing to worry about. Talk to her."

Auron nodded. "Thank you Braska."

"Anytime Auron. Well, as long as that time is in a year my friend. I will see you later and remember what I said."

Auron suddenly felt like he had just woke up. He looked around and found himself on the Farplane still. No Braska however.

Maybe I have a substance abuse problem...

Auron felt a lot better as he left the Farplane. He realized he had been isolating himself again, just as he did when he was unsent. This time he had no reason to. He decided then and there that he was going to live finally for himself. It was worth a try. Auron walked back to the inn in search of Wakka and Tidus. The whole time he thought about the scene he came across outside of Lulu's house. He couldn't get the image of Rikku and Gippal out of his head.

When he reached the inn he shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts. He had to work out his feelings for Rikku later. His head hurt too much right now.

Before he could enter the inn, Tidus and Wakka emerged followed by an attractive red-headed woman.

"Hey Sir Auron! I want you to meet the newest player for the Besaid Aurochs!" Wakka announced.

The woman's face lit up when she saw Auron. "Oh my," she said, "your really the Sir Auron? It is such a pleasure to meet you!" The woman wrapped her arms around Auron and kissed him on the cheek.

Tidus blinked.

This should be interesting, he thought.


A/N: Muahaha...some competition for Rikku maybe? Expect jealously coming up and when are these two going to talk? Stay tuned to find out. I will update before next Saturday as always. Possibly mid week if you guys ask nicely:) Laters