A/n: Sorry it took so long to get this out. It took me forever to get the first six pages written (stupid writer's block) Then I opened it up one day to write some more...Only it was completely gone. All of it. Every single page. So, I have to start all over. Hope it comes out better though.

Disclaimer: Oh! Look a letter from square. I wonder if it's them telling me I now own FFX. -reads- Dear Gining, it has come to our attention that...blah blah blah. Ok so I still don't own it. But enjoy anyway.

--

"Who was that?" Tidus asked as he scratched the back of his head.

"Auron. He takes care of Riana. I knew him many years ago."

"Is that so? Never woulda thought him to have a kid." Tidus muttered. "Doesn't seem the type." He added

"Oh no." Yuna giggled. "She's not his. He's been taking care of her since she was little. For a friend."

"Oh, I get it now." He glanced around as if unsure what to say next. "So, Yuna?"

"Hmm?" She stood waiting for him to speak. When he said nothing more, she spoke up. "I have to do a few things at the new infirmary. Would you like to come with me? Help me out?"

"I would like that." He answered as they walked together.

--

Seymour bolted up in bed. They had come again. The dreams he had thought long forgotten. They were back. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down. He had been tired after visiting the construction of the new temple in Kilika. Yet even that should not have provoked these dreams once again.

He sighed and lay back down. "This will not do." He spoke to himself. "The future leader of Spira plagued by dreams? They must never know." Seymour stared at the ceiling in his room for some time before admitting that he was not going back to sleep. He threw the covers back in frustration and sat up setting his bare feet on the floor.

"I will not let this stop me. If I am to be the one to heal Spira, I must begin with my own demons." Standing up, Seymour slipped into more appropriate clothing. Perhaps it was time to mingle with the people again. If he acted as if nothing was wrong, then nothing would be wrong. His guards joined him as soon as he left the room.

--

Rikku sat on the edge of the shore listening to the small machina in her hand. The melody was so familiar to her, yet she was unable to place why it was so. Tears stung her eyes forcing her to close them to stop. It did no good, only serving to make her more tired. A shifting of the sand behind her made her jump. Quickly Rikku thrust the machina into her pocket. She turned her upper body enough to see Kimahri standing with his arms crossed.

"Come to fight me too?" She snapped at him.

Kimahri shook his large head. "Rikku needs help. Kimahri come to help." He explained.

"Thanks, but I don't need any help. I'm just fine on my own." She declined. He pointed at the dried blood and jagged skin on the back of her legs. Sand and small pebbles stuck to the open wounds. She gasped as she tried to rub it away, but only causing it to become worse. Rikku cried as they were reopened and more blood poured out. The sand under her started to become a dark crimson.

"Kimahri will take you back. Yuna can help you. Fiends will come soon. They will be attracted to the scent of blood." He informed. Rikku nodded sadly as he moved closer. Careful, making sure not to hurt her more, he picked her up and sat her in the crook of his arm. He then took off back to the village. Yuna would be there waiting, he was not worried about that. It was the fiends in the road. Kimahri had fought three just on the way here. If they caught scent of Rikku, they could be in trouble. She would be unable to defend herself well.

With those thoughts in mind, he ran as fast as he could. It wasn't fast enough though. A growl from the woods made Kimahri stop. If he could get across the bridges that led to the village they could get away.

Rikku noticed his hesitation to cross and gripped tighter to him. If he was on guard then something must be wrong. She watched in awe as he pulled his spear from his back, and while still holding her close, fought the first of the fiends that came close. It was a dingo, she noted. Auron had made sure to teach her all the names of every type of fiend. At the time, she hated doing it, but could now see the benefit of the lessons.

"Kimahri!" She shouted to get his attention. "Don't attack it first. Wait for it to come at you, then strike. You won't be able to hit it otherwise." She advised.

With a nod, he did as she instructed. It worked. He looked to her again as something blue and goo-like came out from the ground. "Water flan. Your spear won't be effective. Only magic works."

He held out his spear horizontal to the ground. His voice was low and rumbly and Rikku could feel the vibrations from where she was. "Fire."

Rikku gasped in shock. Surely he knew to use opposite elements? "No! Not that." She brought one hand to her forehead in concentration. "Thunder." She whispered. The flan whined before disappearing. "Glad Lulu made me learn that one first." She smiled as she caught the glint in the Ronso's eyes. "You did that on purpose." She accused.

"Rikku can fight too. Lulu said you need more practice. But Yuna is waiting. We must go now." He held onto her tight as he ran over the bridges and to Besaid village.

Yuna heard curtains rustle as he entered. "Oh, Kimahri. Good you found her." She said with relief. It was short lived after seeing the cuts and tears on Rikku's legs. "It's worse then I thought." She gasped. "Here, place her on this table."

Kimahri did as she requested before moving back and standing in the doorway.

"You really did it this time, Riana." Yuna spoke harshly. She did not mean to, but Rikku's legs looked bad. Worse then they had when she had seen her run away.

"Can't you just do a quick cure and let me go?" Rikku looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"I'm afraid not. You did more damage then I thought. I have to clean then out before I can do anything else." The healer in her began to emerge. "Just lay down and relax. I'll have you healed in no time. Then we can talk about this when I'm done." She used her hands to coax Rikku to lie down.

"Can't we talk tonight? Lulu's waiting for me for my lessons." It was a lie, and she knew it. The question was did Yuna know it?

"Ok, tonight then. I'll have to go explain to Auron then as well." She glanced up remembering the Ronso by the door. "Kimahri? Could you go tell him for me? Let him know that Riana is safe and that I will talk to her tonight."

He nodded and left to talk to the guardian.

Rikku lay back deep in thought as Yuna worked. She had to talk to Auron again. Maybe he was right. They should act as if nothing happened. It may be the only way to salvage what little they had left.

"All done," Yuna said interrupting her thoughts.

"Thanks, Yunie. I promise we will talk about this later." Rikku hopped down from where she was and ran out of the room. She needed to talk to Auron quickly.

"Here's the stuff you asked for." Tidus entered just after Rikku was gone. Yuna stood in her spot unmoving. "Yuna? Something wrong?"

"I just... No, it's nothing. Thanks for getting the medicines. As soon as I put them away I'll be done."

--

The following day Rikku walked around the village hoping to spot the one person she was looking for. Yet, even so, he seemed to have disappeared. Maybe if she could find Kimahri, he would be able to tell her where Auron could be found. But as luck would have it, even he could not be found. She mentally cursed before giving up.

Wakka found her wandering around despondent.

"Hey, Riana!" He called to get her attention.

She glanced to see the red head coming over. Not that she minded the man, but she was still a little upset at him for what he said the other day.

"Look, I just wanted to say sorry to ya. I didn't know it would make you so upset. Forgive me." He lowered his head in submission as he awaited her response.

It didn't take much. He looked so pitiful, how could she say no? "Yeah, I forgive you. Just don't do it again." She grinned as she playfully elbowed him in the side.

He grinned back at her, now relieved of the burden he carried. "Lu says she had something she wanted to show you to. Maybe you should go see her, ya?"

"You know what? I think I will. You have any idea what it could be?"

"Naw, not me. But you better hurry; you don't want to upset her. Who knows what she might do?" Wakka joked with her.

"Will do. See you later!" Rikku shouted as she ran to see what the mage had. She arrived quickly and called out announcing her arrival. "Lulu, you home?"

"That you, Riana? Come on in."

Doing as instructed, Rikku was surprised to see Lulu standing in the middle of floor holding something small in her hand. The mage opened her hands flat so she could see what it was. Rikku peered at it confused.

"It's a sphere. What's on it?"

"Right now, nothing. I found it as I cleaned and thought of you. You have been working so hard on your lessons, I thought that perhaps I should give it to you as a reward."

"You mean it? I can have it?"

"Sure. Here. Take it." Lulu handed over the sphere. It was about the size of her hand, blue with gold trim around the bottom edge, which was flat. "You do know how to use it, right?"

"I think so. Just press this here?" Rikku asked as she pointed out a tiny switch that sat on the gold edging. "Then press it again when I'm done?"

Lulu smiled. "That's right. You have something in mind that you want to use it for?"

Rikku scratched her cheek in thought. "I'm not sure yet, but I know I'll think of something."

"I know you will. I have to go collect some food from the forests. Would you care to come with me, Riana?" Lulu asked changing the subject.

"You know, any other time I would love to. But I think I better go find Auron. I need to talk to him." Rikku declined.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow then for your lesson."

"Right. Thanks again for the sphere." She yelled before leaving the hut.

--

Now that he had his sword back, Auron was able to train himself like he wanted. It helped to relieve the stress he had been feeling. The swinging of the weapon helped stretch muscles that were unable to be done by normal means. He closed his eye in concentration and allowed himself to glide through the motions. It was warm out as the sun beat down on him. His coat had already been discarded some time ago, and he was now contemplating removing the shirt as well. He decided against it. If someone were to come trying to find him in the alcove he found, well, he didn't want that.

The sword swung over his head in an arch, before he twisted his wrist and turning it horizontal to the ground. Sand was thrown around as his boots moved to support what he was doing. He continued this exercise for several more minutes before he felt the presence of someone watching him.

Auron stopped what he was doing as he thrust the sword into the sand next to him. The presence was achingly familiar. He called out to the person behind him. "I know you are there. You can come out now, Rikku."

The shuffling of feet and sand indicated she had heard him. He sighed as she came and stood about three feet from him.

"Kimahri told me where to find you." She whispered softly. "I'm sorry for bothering you."

Auron turned. His charge stood stiff, her head down, and hands clasped in front of her. He couldn't see, but knew her eyes were closed as well.

"Rikku," He began. She lifted her face to him waiting for whatever he was about to say. When he remained silent, she took the initiative.

"Auron, I'm sorry for what I said. I think you were right. I've thought very hard about this." She took a deep breath before continuing.

Auron noted how hard this must be for her to say, and allowed her to speak without interruption.

"Maybe, maybe what happened should never have happened. But I don't want us to act as if it didn't happen. We just have to watch that it doesn't happen again."

Auron rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to follow. When he was sure he understood, he spoke. "It's in the past. In the future we will take precautions not to allow something such as this to happen again. That is what you are trying to say, is it not?"

"I guess so. But we can still be friends now, right?" Rikku bit her bottom lip and pleaded with her eyes.

Auron chuckled. "Of course. Now let's head back. It is getting late, and Kimahri has made something to eat by now I'm sure."

Rikku laughed and ran ahead. She turned back to taunt before running on. "I'll race ya!"

Auron smirked. It would take more time to get over what he had done, but they would work through it. They were too close not to.

--

Night passed by in relative peace. Auron and Rikku seemed to come to terms with each other. After dinner Rikku bid Auron good night as Kimahri walked her over to Yuna's. He insisted that she have someone with her, even as she insisted she didn't. In the end he won. Though she had to admit, it was nice that he thought so highly of her that he wanted to keep an eye on her and protect her.

Yuna practically attacked her with questions as soon as she walked in the hut. Rikku good-naturedly answered them as best she could with out giving too much information away.

"I guess all I wanted was someone who cared about me." Rikku confessed later. "I thought that when Auron kissed me, that maybe he was the one. But I guess I was wrong."

"Don't give up. I'm sure someday you will find the person you are looking for." Yuna encouraged her.

"Just like you found Tidus?" Rikku teased trying get the attention off herself. "So tell me, what is he like? Is he all that you dreamed of?"

"And more. I really think he's the one. I could picture myself with him for the rest of my life. Raising two or three little ones together."

"And who do you have to thank for that?"

Yuna giggled. "Yes, if it weren't for you, I would have never had the courage to talk to him."

"You know it!"

"So tell you what." Rikku stopped smiling, as Yuna turned serious. "If you ever do find that special someone, I will be there to help you catch him. Fair?"

"Thanks, Yunie. That means a lot." Rikku said before leaning over and hugging her friend and cousin.

--

Rikku lay in bed unable to sleep. She had too on her mind to even think about it. True, her and Auron had reconciled, but secretly, she really wished he might have been the one. Silently she reached into the bedside table next to her and pulled out a sphere. It was amazing at how soon she had found a use for it. Turning it on, she watched as Auron played out in front of her. His movements slow and deliberate. Just watching him calmed her down. When the sphere was over, she turned it off and hid it again. Now content, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

--