I'd like to take this chance to thank all of you that have stayed with me this long, as this chapter will have the story finally getting somewhere! I think anyway ;o)

Well the last chapter explained a few things, and then finished with Auron contemplating how the discussion would go with Wakka & Lulu at the fire later that night. Well this chapter picks up from a few hours or so later! Hope you all enjoy, because this chapter has taken forever to write! I just wasn't ever happy with it! Hope it's okay now :o)

Hope you all enjoy, and as usual please review afterwards!

Disclaimer: All things FFX & FFX-2 are owned by Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase & Square-Enix


6. Discussion & Shock

The fire was burning brightly, as it often did at this time of night. It had seemed to me that I'd been waiting forever, and I wasn't too far off wrong. I picked myself up and turned to face Wakka's hut. Turning my face towards the sky, I observed the stars shining high above me majestically. Sometimes I so loved to just stare at the sky and admire all that was to be seen; But this was no time for for me to admire the stars. I turned again to face Wakka's hut.

'This is unbelievable' I thought to myself, 'I cannot believe that they forgot to meet me here!'

I began walking towards Wakka's hut in a furious temper. I am aware that sometimes I allow my temper to get the better of me, but this was no time to be acting calm; I could literally feel something within me, something was going to happen... and soon. Storming into the hut, I took a deep breath in preperation of showing Wakka just how furious I was. I let the breath out in a slow and dissapointed huff though, as I soon realised that neither Wakka or Lulu were anywhere to be seen.

"What on earth? Is this meant to be some kind of joke? Where are you both?" I shouted, not that I expected them to hear me you understand - I was simply feeling my temper rise & rise; I had to vent it some way.

I walked back out towards the fire in the middle of the village. This was rediculous, I simply couldn't understand why they hadn't appeared when they said they would, and to be honest I was beginning to feel... quite worried. Wakka may be undependable, but it certainly wasn't like Lulu to run off without mentioning it first.

'Maybe Wakka's mannerisms are rubbing off on her,' I reasoned with myself, 'there is no need for me to become unduly worried.'

Just then I heard a noise from behind me, the ruffle of a skirt perhaps. I turned to find myself face to face with Yuna - someone I did not expect to see that night.

"Yuna! What on earth are you doing out of bed? You should be resting, you know that." I admonished her.

"I'm sorry, it's just - I woke up and couldn't sleep again... and I remembered, you said we needed to discuss something - and then I heard someone walking around outside the hut, and when I looked outside no-one was there! So I continued looking around - I went out to the Village Gate to see if anyone had left, and there was no-one there... then I heard someone speak behind me! So I turned around, and there you were... staring at the fire." Yuna spoke frantically, as if she had expected me not to pay attention, and so tried her hardest to get as much information in as humanly possibly before I lost interest. She looked at me slightly scared of my reaction, her head tilting down towards her shoulder a little.

"It is okay Yuna - you startled me, that is all. I've been waiting for Wakka & Lulu; We were meant to be discussing something ourselves tonight, but they are no-where to be seen." I replied calmly whilst looking left & right for Wakka & Lulu, deciding that admonishing her yet again certainly wouldn't be the best idea, given her current state of health.

"I haven't seen them I'm sorry." She answered, as if I had asked her if she had.

"No of course not, but not to worry. It is important that we talk though, if you are able?" I requested. I knew it probably wasn't the best idea, but I couldn't shake this feeling deep within that we didn't have long - something was happening, I just had no idea what.

"Um, if you like... I doubt I could sleep again anyway." She replied softly, as she began to look for a comfortable place to sit down near the fire, where it was warmer.

- - - -

"... you see, it worries me so much. Something is happening here in Spira, of that I am sure; But where to start?" I had just finished explaining to Yuna what had happened concerning the Fayth, and how I had died because of the pressure of the dreams on my heart. I had felt that she needed to hear everything, maybe only because it would give her the best overall picture of our situation.

"The young boy, I'm sorry... the Fayth, he didn't tell you why you are here?" Yuna asked, seemingly confused.

"Indeed. He as good as admitted that the Fayth had brought me back to life here in Spira, but then didn't explain why. He said that they had their reasons though, but that I'd most likely find out by myself, or something along those lines. I must admit, I find it quite perplexing." I replied.

"Well... I have something to confess. I'm afraid, we haven't been completely honest with you. You see, when Wakka brough you back here from his trip to Zanarkand, we decided shortly afterwards there were a few things we should keep from you... for your safety of course. Besides, we still didn't know how or why you were back in Spira." Yuna's head drooped in shame; It was obvious she felt terribly guitly for their actions.

"Come Yuna, you did well. Besides, such news would have been best kept from me for a while, until I became accustomed to being here again." I gestured towards her, for her to look up to see my smile. I held no grudges for such behaviour, for I knew I would have done something similar in her situation. In fact, I was actually beginning to feel quite proud of her; Evidentally she had learnt a lot from me during the time we spent together those four years ago.

Yuna looked confused, and shuffled around so she was sitting on her knees.

"Auron, what do you mean by that? 'Such news'? I don't understand, have you already heard? Did the Fayth tell you what happened to him?" Yuna seemed all of a sudden very enthusiastic, she was waiting on my word - needing a response. I shuffled a little myself, feeling slightly uncomfortable for giving her hope.

"It is... not important who told me, however I have not been told anything you don't already know yourself about Tidus. I am sorry Yuna, I know nothing that can bring you comfort." I looked towards her, noticing her blank stare as she realised that I didn't have any news at all of her loved one. She faked a smile.

"Heh, I suppose it was too much to expect good news..." She consoled herself.

"Yuna," I intererupted, "I have full belief that at least a part of my purpose here it to help find out what happened to him. I promise you, I will do everything within my power to help you find out more." I smiled again, trying to bring a little comfort to her.

"...Thank you Auron, but I fear it's too late. Besides, it's been so long... they would have brought you back sooner." She looked disheartened, as a tear formed and rolled slowly down her right cheek. I took a deep breath, not really knowing what to say, as we were disturbed by a Guard from the Temple.

"Excuse me High Summoner, but... I'm afraid we need your help in the Temple. We found Wakka deep within the Temple... he's hurt badly. Lulu is with him, but we need your healing abilities at once Milady!" The Guard shouted, blurting out the words in a nervous disposition.

"My goodness! I'll follow you right away... I'm sorry Auron..." Yuna jumped to her feet and ran behind the Guard towards the Temple.

"I shall be there shortly." I bellowed after her. I couldn't believe it; All of a sudden I felt so very guilty for thinking bad of Wakka for not appearing when he should have, although evidentally my earlier worries weren't without weight. I began jogging towards the temple, considering inwardly what this could all mean.

'Whatever this means,' I convinced myself, 'this I am sure will lead us in the right direction to follow. I have a feeling soon I will have a better understanding as to what I should be doing here, and just as well... I feel my time may already be running out...' I climbed the steps and ran through the now open Temple doorway.

(Meanwhile: Within a dark Office - Bevelle)

The office doors swung open as a Bevellian Head Guard strided in confidently, approaching a man wearing a glamorous green silk robe.

"Sir, your orders have been fulfilled. Will there be anything else?" The Guard pronounced, seeming confident within himself after fulfilling his orders.

"You didn't finish the job." The man turned, his robe flowing in the wind from the open Louvre doors leading out towards the balcony.

The Guard suddenly began walking cautiously backwards, nervously thinking of ways to defend himself.

"But... but Milord! I was sure of his status - we left him for dead!" The Guard seemed desperate to explain himself, although he couldn't help but be surprised, since they had most definitely left him for dead.

"I told you to KILL him. There is a powerful healer in that Village. Leaving him for dead would never have worked, or I would have asked you to do so." The man replied.

"I'm... I'm so... so sorry Sire! Please... give me and my men another chance!" The Guard pleaded.

"No, no. You've already done enough to slow down my plans. It seems I'll have to call in someone who knows how to complete their orders when given them. You are dismissed." The man showed no emotion, but simply stood there pointing towards the now open doors leading out to the extravagently decorated hallway.

"Yes sir... as you wish." The Guard seemed dejected, but gave in and walked out towards the hallway.

"...oh, and Heklen, before you leave... you must do me one last favour." The man spoke aloud, now looking out through the Louvre doors once more.

"... Ye-yes... Praetor Baralai?" The Guard nervously replied.

"I wish for you to make a request for the company of Meyvn Nooj of the Youth League, and Gippal of the Machine Faction. That will be all." The Praetor requested, again emotionless.

"It would be my pleasure Milord." The Guard ran out of the room, closing the doors quietly behind him on his way out. The Praetor continued to stare coldly out into the dark night-sky. Closing his eyes, he envisioned Besaid, and found himself actually within the Besaid Temple over-looking the whole situation as it unfolded. A man wearing a long red robe strided into the picture, and kneeled down near Yuna looking worried. The Praetor opened his eyes suddenly and gasped in utter shock.

"It can't be! It's impossible!" He shouted into the wind, closing his eyes once more. Without doubt, it was Auron - crouching there right next to Yuna. Baralai opened his eyes again and lifted his hand up to his chin, cradling and shaking his head to and fro in deep thought.

"Hmmm... it seems we will have much to discuss. The presence of this legendary warrior could change everything."

Right then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! It gives a little bit of a hint where this story is going anyway! I realised that having an age long chapter having Auron speaking with Yuna would have been a bore, so I cut that section out and kept to the basics, seeing as what they talked about you've already read in the last chapter anyway!

Hope you all enjoyed it, next chapter coming soon :o)

Thanks and be back soon!