A/N: Hey three updates in three days, can I get a booyah? Ay...ok next chapter, no notes really. Just shout-outs!
Kitty Malone: Yeah I am not good a battle scenes so I just tried to focus on what they were feeling. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Krazie-edge: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like this chapter.
AbsintheJade21: I know, but Kyra will get hers! I'm glad you like the story:)
xxRhixx: ha ha I updated so quickly because I knew some people would freak out. Thoses people will remain nameless...(you) I told you I wouldn't keep you hanging for long:)
perfect yet broken: yeah payback was what I had in mind! Tidus is fun to mess with. Glad you liked the chapter.
Starry34: I'm so glad you liked it! Hope your ready for this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own FF or the characters. Do something.
Auron turned in time to see Krya cast three consecutive Thundaga spells at Rikku.
He ran to Rikku and caught her right before she hit the ground.
No Letting Go
"Rikku! Rikku!" Auron called to her frantically.
No response. She had been hit hard. Auron held her in his arms shaking her gently.
"Rikku, please say something!"
Yuna ran over to her cousin and knelt beside her on the ground. She positioned her hands over Rikku, preparing to cast healing spells.
"Sir Auron, I need some room please."
Auron looked at Yuna and nodded. He did not want to leave Rikku, but he trusted the young summoner. He instead turned his attention to Kyra. She was standing with her friends and smirking to herself at her successful revenge.
Auron felt his blood start to boil. He hadn't felt this angry since his fight with Yunalesca all those years ago. She hurt Rikku and he was going to kill her.
He picked up his sword off the ground and started toward her. Kyra looked surprised as he approached her.
"What's wrong Auron? You want to fight me now? Let's go!"
Auron wasn't in the mood for games. He let all his anger loose on the girl. Krya immediately regretted provoking him. She was sure she could hold her own against Auron, but soon found she was dead wrong. Auron had learned from his battle with Yunalesca. He knew how to channel his rage into productive fighting. That was not a good thing to anyone on the other end of his sword.
Wakka turned around from Yuna and Rikku when he heard the sound of swordplay. He saw Auron and Kyra fighting. He saw the determination in Auron's eyes and the fright in Krya's and turned to Lulu.
"Lu! Auron is going to kill her! We got to stop him ya!"
Lulu turned to her husband and saw the fight that was progressing across the arena. She nodded and walked over to them. Before she made it to them, Wakka grabbed her arm.
"Lulu don't get in the middle of that fight! You could get hurt." He understood the feeling that drove Auron. He knew he would feel the same if it had been Lulu on the ground injured. He also knew it would take a lot to calm Auron's resolve and he didn't want Lulu hurt.
Lulu nodded and smiled. "I don't plan to Wakka"
Lulu stopped a good distance from the two opponents and pulled her moogle to her. She lifted her arm and cast Stop.
Auron suddenly found he couldn't move. What the...?
He looked to Kyra and saw that she was frozen as well. They stared at each other, eyes full of hate, until Lulu and Wakka stepped in between them. Wakka circled around behind Kyra and took a firm hold on her shoulders.
Lulu lifted the spell from Krya and she fell back in Wakka's grip.
"Go," she told Kyra, "Auron is not ruining his life because of you. Leave."
Krya let Wakka escort her to the arena entrance.
Lulu turned toward Auron and looked at him seriously. "Auron, I am going to let you go now. I want you to go to Rikku. You don't need to fight with Kyra anymore."
Auron looked at Lulu and waited. She cast Dispel and Auron let his sword drop..
"Thank you Lulu" Auron told her as they both ran back to Yuna.
Yuna was still over Rikku casting spell after spell. Yuna had been joined by a few of the people they had battled earlier. They were helping Yuna cast spells.
Auron found that he felt helpless. The only thing he could do for Rikku was to stay by her side. He knelt on the ground and took Rikku's hand. Yuna looked at him and nodded. "Stay still Auron. Let us work." she told him gently.
Auron nodded and squeezed Rikku's hand. The very same hand he held last night. The very same hand that had been so full of energy only moments ago. The mages helping Yuna had exhausted their magic power and stepped back. Tidus was standing with Yuna making sure he gave her the potions she needed to keep her magic full.
After a few moments Yuna sat back. "Ok I have done as much as I can for her. Now we wait."
"Is she going to be ok Yuna?" Tidus asked.
Yuna hesitated. "She...is not looking too good Tidus. We have to see if she can hold on without me healing her so much. She's strong. I think she can do it."
Lulu frowned. "So we are waiting to see if she can live on her own without magic."
Yuna nodded.
Auron watched Rikku for any response. He wanted more than anything for her to be ok. He needed to tell her all the things he felt for her. He needed her to know.
Suddenly she jerked awake, convulsing as if the spell was still with her. Auron pulled her close to his chest and held her tightly as Yuna ran over to Rikku's other side.
"Rikku! Calm down, the spell is over. It's gone, your ok!" Yuna pleaded with her cousin.
Auron looked down into Rikku's eyes and felt his heart break when he saw the pain there. She looked up at him and silently pleaded for his help. She hurt so much.
Auron softly whispered to Rikku. "Rikku, please stay with us. Your going to be ok. It's going to be alright."
Rikku looked up at him and Auron saw relief in her eyes. She felt the pain start to leave her body.
She smiled up at him and closed her eyes, leaning her head against him.
She took her last breath in the arms of the man she loved.
Auron felt her breathing stop and looked up at Yuna.
"Rikku! Stay with us! Yuna do something!" he yelled in a panic.
Yuna was crying. "Auron she's gone. I can't do anything for her now."
Auron looked down at Rikku. Her face looked so peaceful and calm to him. He stroked her hair and pulled her closer.
Auron nuzzled his face into her neck and let his pained tears fall.
The group stayed around Rikku for sometime. Wakka had returned from taking Kyra away and came over to his friends. When he approached, he saw Tidus holding Yuna closely, both of them crying in each others arms. Auron was on the ground with Rikku. Wakka couldn't see the expression on his face but Auron's body was shaking.
Lulu turned toward him, her face wet from her tears. He took her into his arms and held her close. He felt his heart fall into his stomach when it hit him. His little friend Rikku was gone.
"Wakka" Lulu cried into his chest. "My heart hurts so much"
Wakka held his wife to him as close as he could and stroked her back. He looked over her shoulder at Auron and Rikku.
"I know Lu. I know"
Wakka glanced at Tidus and saw that he was in the same position as himself. Unlike Lulu, Yuna was crying uncontrollably. It took all the energy Yuna had to pull herself together when they were joined by a pair of friends.
Baralai and Paine had arrived at the tournament in time to see the last match. They had been high in the stands when Krya cast her magic on Rikku. They tried to come as soon as they could.
They walked over to their friends and Paine hugged Yuna. They all stood closely together. Auron didn't move from his position next to Rikku.
Baralai was the first to break the silence. "I am so sorry everyone. I don't know what to say."
It was Tidus' turn to be angry. "You can say this didn't happen! You can say we never met Kyra!"
Wakka and Tidus exchanged a look. They both felt responsible for what happened. They brought Kyra here.
Baralai sighed. "I know it's not much condolence, but we have Kyra in our custody. She will not get away with this."
Auron was half listening to the conversation. He was still hiding his tears in Rikku's neck. He sighed and felt defeated. He couldn't believe she was gone.
Rikku felt like she was in haze. A purple and pink haze. It confused her.
"Rikku" Who was calling her? Was it Auron?
"Rikku" No it wasn't Auron. It was...Braska?
He eyes flew open and she saw herself standing face to face with her uncle and Tidus' dad.
"Hey girl. Welcome to the Farplane!" Jetch said.
Rikku blinked.
"WHAT? THAT BITCH KILLED ME? Rikku yelled. Now she was really mad. " I'm going to haunt her soooo bad!"
Rikku remembered what happened now. She remembered the incredible pain in her body from a spell Kyra cast. She remembered Yuna over her. She remembered Auron holding her.
"Auron..."she whispered. Her breathing was heavy with anger. Why did Kyra do this!
Braska smiled. "Did you two get together yet?"
Rikku looked at him an raised an eyebrow. "No. How did you know? Do you guys spy on us?"
Braska laughed. He told Rikku about his deal with the fayth.
"So I talked to Auron when he came to Guadosalam. No spying involved."
"Oh I see," Rikku said, "Hey Jetch, what do you ask the fayth for?"
Jetch smiled. "I haven't asked them for anything yet. I told them I was going to save my wish for something good. I think I've found it."
Rikku looked at him hopefully. "What?"
"I'm going to get them to send you back Rikku. But I have one condition for you."
"Oh! Jecht thanks! Yes anything!" Rikku wanted very badly to go back to Auron.
Auron's tears had stopped flowing. He felt empty and cold inside. Why was life so cruel to him? His head was resting on Rikku's chest and he stayed silent. His friends had tried to talk to him but he wouldn't answer or move away from Rikku. He didn't really intend on leaving her side.
"Yuna!" Auron screamed, causing the young girl to jump in fright.
"She's breathing!"
Yuna's eyebrows shot up as she raced to Rikku's side again. She saw Rikku's chest rising and falling gently under Auron.
She cast another healing spell on her cousin and waited.
Auron sat up looking into Rikku's face expectantly. He felt relief flood over him when her eyes opened.
Rikku looked up at her cousin's smiling face. Wow that was quick...I gotta remember to stay on the fayth's good side...
She looked up to her right and saw Auron trembling. He picked up her hand, kissed it, and held it to his tear-stained cheek . "Rikku! Don't do that to me again!" Auron looked at her with more emotion than she had ever seen from him and she knew that she loved him.
Rikku heard Tidus, Wakka and Lulu shouting in the background. She was glad to be alive again.
She smiled and tried to sit up. It didn't work. She got really dizzy and fell back down. Auron caught her and pulled her in for a hug. He kissed her forehead softly, then her nose, then her lips.
"Come on Rikku," Auron said as he lifted her into his arms, "let's get you somewhere you can rest."
Lulu and Yuna smiled at each other seeing that their friends were happy.
The group made their way to the inn and were stopped by a the innkeeper.
"I'm sorry there are no rooms available at the inn," he told them, " If you let us, we can take Lady Rikku to our healing room."
Two large guards moved to Auron to take Rikku. Auron shot them a death glare and didn't move.
"You will not touch her," he said a little possessively.
"Sir Auron," Yuna said, "Rikku needs to rest."
"Fine, but they are not touching her."
It took a while to convince Auron to let Rikku go. He settled for taking her to the healing room on the condition that he got to stay and no one touched her. Rikku didn't hear any of this since she was fast asleep in his arms.
After about an hour, Auron emerged with Rikku in his arms still.
"This is pointless. Those healers aren't as good as Yuna and I think we need to take Rikku home." he told the group.
Lulu and Wakka smiled and nodded. Tidus and Yuna jumped up and down and yelled, "Let's go home!"
A/N: Hey I hope you guys liked the chapter. I'm a little worried about it. I like it, but I think it is missing something? Any suggestions? I might add it in the next chapter. No update tomorrow. I have to get up early Saturday morning. But you guys know I'll holla back as soon as I can. In the meantime, try to guess what Jetch told Rikku her one condition is. It's a good one:) Laters!
