A/n: So sorry this has taken so long to get out. My month had been so busy with things happening and all. Then I came across a bit of a block, but I forced myself to sit down and work on this. So here you go. I hope you enjoy it. Gin
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it yet. But if square ever decides to give it to me, I won't object!
--
"Quick, get that coat off him and put him on the bed here." The healer commanded as she started to work.
Keepa did exactly as she said, knowing she knew what needed done. Besides it was an honor for him to be able to help like this. He removed the coat as requested, but when he slung it over a nearby chair something fell out of a pocket. He picked it up and looked at it.
"Yuna," He called to the mage.
She tilted her head, but did not stop working. "What is it, Keepa?"
"This envelope fell out of his pocket. What should I do with it?" He asked he confused.
Yuna sighed, but was not upset. Sometimes she swore Keepa had been hit one too many times with a blitz ball. "Just put it next to his coat on the chair. I'll deal with it later."
"As you say, ma'am. Do you need anything else?"
"No, go on. I'll be fine here." She replied as she used a basin of water to clean the worst of the wounds. The man left and she wondered as she worked what had happened to this man. "This can't be the work of one fiend." She thought out loud. "You look like a warrior, there is no way I can believe a dingo took you out like this."
"It didn't." A new voice chimed in. She gasped in shock before realizing who it was. He continued. "He brought his friends. I was facing a pack of dingos." He rasped, trying to suck in much needed air after his (to him) long winded explanation.
"I see then." She spoke quietly. "But you still need some time to heal. I would ask what happened, but first..." She left off.
Auron stared at her through his one good eye, unsure of what she was getting at. That was until he felt the gentle pulling of a sleep spell. The last thought on his mind was: where was Rikku through all this?
Yuna smiled at her work when she saw he would be out for a while. She began to chant a regen spell that would work to reset his broken ribs slowly unlike a curaga would. This would be easier on his body.
She worked quickly, chanting spells and physically tending to the wounds she could. Thoughts invaded her that seemed to have come from no where. There was something about this man that she felt she should know. Granted she remembered a man named Auron from her youth, but there were plenty of Aurons in Spira. It was unlikely that this could be the same person.
--
"Yuna, I know Auron isn't here to protect you, but you have to leave now while you can." The healer told his only daughter as he saw solders coming to the house. "Go out the back door and hide at his house."
"But daddy," She tried to protest.
"Now, Yuna, go!" He shouted as he pushed her away.
As she ran, Yuna could hear screams inside the house of her parents as they were shot. She didn't know what was going on, but knew enough that this was not good. She ran as fast as her little legs would carry her until she reached the door of the house her father told her to run to. With shaking hands she opened the door and entered.
As expected, it was empty. Auron had left to visit the city of Bikanel almost a week ago. Her parents had declined going, saying that her father, Braska, had things at the temple to take care of. Yuna walked around the flat glancing at pictures and such before sitting down on the couch. As soon as she had done so, the tears came. She finally lay there and fell asleep until morning.
The next day she had left to walk through the city. Who was to tell a nine year old she couldn't? It was then she had met the Ronso. He had just left Gagazet. He must have felt sorry for her after hearing her story, because he then took her to Besaid. Up until three years ago, she had lived with him there. Granted she still lived on the island, but she had moved out and found her own place. And just like her father, she served as a healer.
"Are you...the same?" She whispered the question. She removed his sunglasses and stared into his face. He looked so familiar, but that scar, the Auron she knew did not have that. "Just who are you?"
--
Two men were gathered in a private room. It was tactfully, but expensively decorated. It wasn't overly large either, just big enough for a desk, some chairs in front of it, a high-backed shoopuff skin chair behind it, and enough room for five men to stand without touching. A circular rug under the desk that expanded out to the door, covered the floor.
An older looking man stood in front of the desk while he waiting for his lord to speak.
"Tell me, have you found them yet?" He finally asked after a few moments of uneasy silence.
"No, milord. We are still searching. And those that have been caught will not talk. No matter how much we threaten."
The first man let out a growl and used his arm to clear the desk in front of him in a rare act of anger. He stood and used his fists for support in front of him. "I want to know his location, and I want it now! It has been over ten years, and still he remains untouched. What must I do?"
"I'm sorry, milord. I can send out more search parties if that is your will." The servant weakly suggested.
With a sigh the master sat. He brought a hand up to rub his temple. "No, it has already been proved that it won't work. No matter what he always seems to just evade my grip. We must find a new way to capture him. Something that has not been done before, that he will not be able to see through the trap."
"What about finding the children, sir?"
"Hmm." He thought about the implications of that. "You may be on to something. Send for the soldiers that have returned from Kilika recently. Tell then nothing, only that I would like to see them."
As you say sir." The second man bowed and began to leave the room.
"Oh and as for those three men." He stopped his servant just before he opened the door.
"Yes, milord?"
"Kill them." With a nod, and another bow the servant was gone.
"Soon my friend. Very soon. I will have you eating out of the palm of my hand." He smiled to himself as the sound of three shots drifted to his ears.
--
"So, Lu, what do you make of those two travelers?" Wakka asked his wife that evening. They sat in their hut talking over the events of the day.
"They seem nice enough I suppose." She replied.
"Yeah, but, don't it seem strange to you, ya? I mean they suddenly show up and all?"
"Wakka, you said the same thing when Yuna and Kimahri showed up. And look how close you are to them." She pointed out.
"That's different."
She sighed. As much as she loved the man, he could be dense sometimes. "Different? How? She's like a sister to you now, isn't she?"
"Ya, but you know. We were children then."
"Wakka. I have met the both of them myself. Riana even seems to be doing well in her magic lessons. During the lessons she has told me a lot about where she came from. Really seems like a nice girl too."
"And that other guy? What about him?"
"That's her caretaker. You met him, before I started with the lessons." She brought up.
"Ya, but he seems so cold. Besides, what is he doing with a girl so young anyway?" He leaned forward in his seat waiting to hear how she would answer this one.
"I don't know. But I do know that they are very close. She told me that he's been taking care of her ever since she was little. Though she remembers little before that."
"So you think that they are innocent enough?" He asked defeated.
"Yes, I would have to say they are. Neither strike me as the type to cause any harm. They just want a quiet life away from strife." She stood and headed for the door. "If you would excuse me, I told Yuna I would meet her tonight." And with that she left him to think about the conversation.
--
Rikku sat on the floor on Auron's left holding onto his hand. He was still sleeping from Yuna's spell. She had been there for so long that her legs had gone numb, but still she did not move. She would stay until he woke up. The leather clad mage came in and stood next to her. She said nothing at first, until Rikku looked up at her.
"When will he wake up?" She whispered.
"I don't know. It depends on how long it takes for him to heal. He seems strong, it should be soon."
"He seems strong?" Rikku repeated almost as if it was a joke. "If only you knew." She muttered.
However Lulu's sensitive ears still picked it up. "You look like you're about to drop. Why don't you go and lay down for a bit? I can have Yuna send someone to come get you when he wakes up." She offered.
"No. I don't want him waking up alone. He might get scared." She protested as she clung to Auron's hand just a little tighter.
"Really now? He don't look the type to be scared. Are you sure it's not just you?" Lulu questioned her.
Rikku sighed. "Yes, I guess it is me. I'm scared, really I am. He's all I have, and it hurts to think about something happening to him. I don't want to be left alone." Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she managed to hold them at bay, at least for now.
Lulu knelt so that she was level with the younger girl. "How about if I take you back to Kimarhi's." She insisted. "You need to sleep. Besides, he might wake up by the time you do."
Rikku lifted her head. "You mean that?"
"Yes I do. Now come on." She stood and offered a hand to help Rikku up. She was relived when she took it and followed her out.
Lulu explained to the Ronso why she was there, and he readily agreed that Rikku needed to rest. She had gone through a very emotional day. It was best that she lay down and relax. After the mage had left and Rikku was asleep, he moved about the hut preparing food for dinner that night. As he did so, he saw an envelope on his counter that Yuna had given to him earlier. Silently he made his way into her room and placed it on the dresser in the room.
Neither he, nor Yuna had opened it, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, but both thought it best if they delivered it to the young girl. Seeing as it had fallen out of her caretaker's coat, she should have been the only one to see it anyway.
--
"So tell me. What had you found out while you were in Kilika? Anything useful?" The master circled the solders as he waited for an answer.
They stood in place shaking as they thought best of how to answer the man in front of them. One found his voice and answered. "Well sir, we did find something. A girl in town. She had the swirled eyes that you had told us about."
He smiled as he glided over to the solder. "Good, good. Tell me more." He encouraged in a smooth voice.
"She was young, maybe about sixteen or seventeen. Blond hair, and green eyes. We stopped her just outside the village and began to question her. She began to scream and throw stuff at us before running away. We were unable to catch up to her after that." He held his head high after finishing.
"I see. Gentlemen, you should be proud. You have just found yourselves your first Al Bhed. As you have seen first hand, they are sub-human, and cannot be trusted at all. They are violent and cowards. They run at the first sign of trouble to hide in the forests outside of villages." He paused as he looked to the other two who still stood with out saying a word yet. "I think that it is time we see if we can't find this young woman again. She is the first we have found this far south. Maybe she might be the key to find the rest of this tribe of rats."
--
An hour and a half later, Rikku woke up feeling much better then she had before. The rest had done her some good. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat up. A white paper on the dresser across the room caught her attention. With a puzzled expression, she got out of bed, and moved to pick it up.
It was a plain off-white envelope. There was nothing spectacular about it, but yet something nagged at her deep down. A feeling of dread filled her stomach, as she tried to think on happy thoughts. Maybe it was a note from the healer Yuna, telling her that Auron had woken up. But if that was the case, why didn't they wake her up to tell her? They said they would let her know as soon as he did so.
With shaking hands, she tore open the top and pulled out a faded piece of paper. Gulping, she began to read.
Rikku,
If you are reading this letter, it must mean I am dead or near death. I am sorry that you have to find out in this way, but it is for the best. There is something about yourself that you must know. I have spent many a night watching you sleep debating within myself whether or not I should tell you. Many times I have begun, only to trail off and let you continue live as a normal denizen of Spira without the worry of what will happen next in life. And so begins the main part of this letter.
Rikku, do you remember the night that you came to live with me? (Honestly she didn't. She was only six then.) I was sixteen at the time. I did not feel old enough for the responsibility of a child, I had other things to do. Allow me to explain.
As a warrior monk, I befriended the Bevelle temple healer, Braska. He would make many trips to the city of Bikanel to visit the Al Bhed tribe who lived there. Many times I would go with him on these trips. This was how we became friends with the leader of the tribe, Cid. Cid was a good man, if a little blunt, but devoted to his family and his tribe. His sister and Braska soon became close and later married. After the celebration, they went home to Bevelle and had a daughter named Yuna. Years later something happened. There was a fallout between Spirans and Al Bhed.
I had left a week before it happened. Not knowing what had gone on in Bevelle, I went to Bikanel by myself. Braska could not join me as he had duties at the temple to take care of. Three days after I arrived to the city, Cid had called me aside asking me to take care of his younger child. I had refused at first. I was too young, there were others closer who would do a better job. But he insisted. I finally agreed and we left before the attack came. We made it out alive, but I lost my eye in the process. It was a small price to pay for keeping the child safe.
I went back to Bevelle and to the temple to receive my duties. I was horrified at what they wanted to do. I had refused to murder any Al Bhed I came across and was thus banished from the monks. I later learned that my friend and his family was killed for being associated with them. I took the child and escaped to Kilika before the temples could come after me as well.
And thus Rikku, is the truth about you. That child I have mentioned above is you. You are the daughter of Cid, leader of the Al Bhed. Knowing this now, I implore you to fill the role your father did, and bring the Al Bhed back together again. I know deep in my heart that you are strong enough for this task. You must bring them together and stand up to the temples for the atrocities they have done to your tribe and family. Be brave and courageous, and do not worry about me. If all went well, I have found peace on the farplane. I will be watching out for you from afar.
With great hopes, Auron
Rikku dropped the letter to the floor as if it had burned her hands. A knock came at the door and Yuna stepped into the room.
"Riana, are you awake? I came to let you know about your friend." She spoke in her gentle voice.
Rikku didn't even stay long enough to hear what she had to say. Without another thought, she took off to see Auron.
--
Haha, evil cliffy I know. But believe me, it does get better. And this time, I'll try not to wait so long before updating. I'm starting to really get into this now.
I do have one complaint though. I really don't like this review response thing has now. Personally I really don't feel like taking the time to respond to each person individually when I was able to do it all at once before. I still have dial up (yes it sucks, I'm working on getting something faster after Christmas), and sometimes it still takes a while for pages to load. So if anyone is with me, I say we complain and see if we can't get them to change the rule.
