Chapter 3

Rikku wanted to remain in bed. The thunder still cracked, but oddly, she didn't feel afraid of it. Memories of what happened the day before swirled through her head. She really let her emotions get the better of her and allowed Auron to see it! Her father has chided her before that too often she let her emotions win.

Voices were heard outside of her and Lulu's room. She turned over on the bed and saw that the other bed in the room was vacant. Had Lulu already gone down to meet the group?

"What time is it?" Rikku moaned and sat up. She rubbed her eyes. "Oh, I want to sleep more. Dang that Auron for making me lose sleep because he kept on running through my head all night." The memory from the night before came to head for the thousandth time. "I need to say sorry to him..."

She got out of bed and looked at herself in a mirror on the wall. Her eyes were big and green, and her blonde hair stuck out in every direction. She yanked out the holder and fixed her disheveled hair, retying the ponytail, and left the room. Once downstairs, she stopped and looked around. She saw everyone there but Auron. She went over to Yuna.

"Good morning, Yunie."

She gave her a welcoming smile. "Oh, good morning, Rikku."

"So um… where's Sir Auron?"

"He went outside for a moment for some air. He said that we should leave very soon. We were actually waiting for you."

"Oh, really? Sorry."

"It's alright." Concern filled her features. "Are you doing alright? After Sir Auron when up to check on you last night, you never came down, and you were already asleep when Lulu went into the room."

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just… I really don't like thunder. I mean, yesterday, I didn't. I oddly don't mind it now." A thought came to her. "Why would Sir Auron come up and check on me and not Lulu or you?"

She shook her head. "I am not sure. I think it's because he was concerned for you. I think he would have done it with any one of us."

Rikku nodded. "Hm… okay. But why…?"

The door to the agency opened suddenly and Auron came inside. Rikku swallowed the question that she was about to ask Yuna. Her pulse rose at the sight of Auron dripping wet from being in the rain outside. "Whoa…" she mused.

"Alright, everyone, let's head out."

The group started out of the agency and walked into the damp planes as the thunder cracked, and lightning hit the towers. Yuna suddenly stopped and everyone turned to face her.

"Um, everyone, I have something to say."

"Alright, but under here," Auron said, and all of them stood under one of the towers, out of the rain and away from the thunder.

"I have decided," Yuna began and took a breath, "to accept Maester Seymour's proposal."

Everyone gasped, aside from Auron and Kimari. Rikku came up to her cousin and asked, "Yunie, is that what you really want to do?"

"Yes, it is. I want to bring peace and happiness to Spira, and I believe it is one way to do that is to marry Maester Seymour and give Spira something to be joyous about."

Some of the group protested, especially Tidus. Lulu had to tell him that as long as Yuna continued on her pilgramage, then she could do what she wanted.

"She is right," Auron said. "As long as she in willing to still continue her pilgrimage, then she can do as she pleases."

Rikku took hold of Yuna's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. She said with complete seriousness, "I want you to know Yunie, that all I want is for you to be happy, and if marrying him will make you happy, then go ahead and do it."

"Thank you, Rikku."

The group went on into the rain, and as the rain hit Rikku's face, she felt an ache in her chest. Was it right for Yuna to marry Maester Seymour? And that quick? Did Yuna love him at all? And did he love her? Rikku recalled all those glances Maester Seymour made at her, and she frowned, having a good idea of what they meant. What was that half-Guado man up to?

Forestry started coming into view, and the group suddenly came into a beautiful forest full of trees with glowing orbs in them which buzzed, giving the forest a calming hum. Shimmering crystals decorated the forest as well.

"Oh, how pretty!" Rikku gushed. "This is so much better than the Thunder Planes."

"The Macalania Woods," Auron said, and came to a large tree. "I would like to show you all something."

He cut through the massive tree which lay sideways and continued to cut through more plants and trees. Rikku wondered what in Spira he was doing. She followed him and the group through the trees and gasped when they came to a pond of shining water, with a tree sitting next to it with a massive orb glowing on the top of it.

"Whoa..." Rikku enthused. "This is beautiful."

"That's just water, isn't it?" Tidus asked.

"This is where memory spheres are made," Auron explained. "The water stores the memory and makes the sphere." He trudged through the water and grabbed something out of it. It was a glowing blue sphere, much like the one that Yuna picked up after she sent Lord Jyscal to the Farplane. Auron said as he handed it to Tidus, "Play it."

Rikku watched at the memory played and she saw a scruff man that could be Tidus's dad Jeckt. Then she saw Yuna's father Lord Braska, then…

"Wow..." she muttered as she stared at a young Sir Auron, maybe around twenty-five years old, and very handsome, without a scarred eye. The memory played out, and all the while, she ogled at the young Sir Auron, and giggled when he joked with his two new friends. When the memory shut off, all became silent.

"Okay," Tidus said, as a summation of his opinion of his father's feelings towards him. "Well, that's that."

"He loved you," Auron said to him, "but in his own way."

Tidus pursed his lips and Rikku noticed tears in his eyes. "Enough about my old man, okay? Let's just go."

He walked off, and the group followed him, aside from Auron. He stared after Tidus. Rikku walked up to Auron, her hands clasped behind her back.

"So, you really were there, huh? With Tidus's dad."

"Yes. Jeckt spoke of Tidus often."

"I just wish the Tidus knew that he was actually loved."

"It is difficult for him to believe that after the way he was treated when he was younger."

Rikku didn't want to ask farther, and her heart hurt for her new friend Tidus and what he went through. When she remained silent, Auron walked on and she followed. She stayed behind him for a while, watching his broad back. He wanted Tidus to watch that sphere, and stopped everyone just so he could go retrieve it and have Tidus watch it? There was good in his heart. Good that made him care for his friends Jeckt and Lord Braska, and good that made him walk up the stairs in the Thunder Planes Travel Agency to see if she was okay. There was certainly more under that rough exterior than anyone let on.

She caught up to him, her heart pounding hard in her chest. "Hey, Sir Auron?"

"What now?"

"I just wanted to say, um… thanks. You know, for giving me some strength in the Thunder Planes. I was a mess and scared out of my wits. I just hate thunder and… um, I'm just sorry. I acted like a child, clinging onto you like that. I mean... my father always said that I sometimes let my emotions get the better of me. I hate it, but it's almost to a fault."

"You were scared. It's understandable."

They walked on, the air began to get a little chilly. "Still… sorry."

"Don't worry about it anymore."

"I won't. You helped me through my fear. I'm not so scared of thunder anymore, thanks to you."

He glanced at her and she realized what she revealed. Her cheeks heated up to an intense degree. "At least I won't have to worry about you screaming every time thunder strikes again."

She laughed, and a smile grazed his lips as well. That brought her spirits up as high as Spira's tallest mountains. She has not seen Auron smile since she met him!

The group walked on, and Rikku walked along next to Auron for quite some time. She guessed an hour passed as the forest suddenly became less dense. A cold gust of wind blew and she shivered.

"Hey, it's getting kinda cold," Tidus commented.

"We are nearing Macalania Temple," Lulu said. "It is hidden in the snow."

"Snow?" Rikku asked, her teeth starting to chatter. "We're going to be walking in the snow?"

"Yes, we have to cross a large snowy field to get to the temple."

"Oh, man..."

They walked on and came to the icy snow. Rikku's teeth chattered, and she noticed something being held in front of her. A black blanket.

"Put this around you," Auron said. "You should really learn to wear more clothing when it's cold outside."

She took the blanket and wrapped it around herself, instantly feeling warmth overcome her. "Thank you. And how am I supposed to wear something else when I have nothing but my potions and weapons? I'm from a desert area where it's hot."

He chuckled and the group eventually stopped when that same Guado man from the manor, Tromell, stopped them.

"Oh, just the people I was looking for," he said happily with outstretched arms. "Lord Maester Seymour has been awaiting your arrival."

"Just like the last time, ya?" Wakka asked.

"Yes, but he wishes to see Lady Summoner Yuna, as well as her gaurdian Rikku."

"What? Me?" Rikku squeaked. "Why me?"

"I am not certain. So please, Lady Summoner Yuna, and gaurdian Rikku, come with me."

Rikku gave Auron, as well as Lulu, an unsure look, and both nodded their heads. Yuna and Rikku went on with Tromell, but Wakka stepped in front of them.

"No way are the going with out us."

"I am afraid it is a Guado custom to have you wait here while Maester Seymour meets his desired guests," Tromell said.

"Hey, no way!" Tidus said, and Rikku saw Auron hold Tidus back. Soon, she, Rikku, and Tromell came to the temple's large double-doors after walking down into a snowy cave.

"Come," Tromell said, and the two young women followed him through hallways that eventually led to a large circular room with a staircase which led up to a doorway.

"What am I doing here, Yunie?" Rikku whispered as she took off her blanket and hung it over her arm.

"I am not sure why Maester Seymour asked to see you as well. I suppose we will see."

Rikku noticed something in Yuna's eyes that she hasn't seen before—redness.

"Yunie, are you alright?" she asked in alarm. "Are you going to cry?"

"No, no, I'll be fine."

A man entered the room, and Rikku froze when his gaze landed on her first. "Tromell," he said in his smooth voice, "please, leave us."

"Yes," Tromell complied and left the room. Maester Seymour walked up to the two young women.

"Lady Yuna," he greeted her the prayer bow. "I apologize for my abrupt departure yesterday."

Yuna greeted him with the prayer bow as well."It is alright, Maester Seymour. You asked to see me and Rikku?"

"Yes. You may go and pray to the Fayth. I wish to speak with your gaurdian."

"Yes, Maester Seymour," she said. "And I wish to speak to you as well afterward."

"I would be happy to speak with you, but you must pray to receive the Final Aeon."

"Of course," she said and walked up to the stairs and disappeared behind the door. Rikku wanted more than anything to follow her or to leave the room. Being in the same room—alone—with Maester Seymour was making her nerves tingle all over.

"Why do you want to speak with just me?" she asked him when Yuna was out of sight.

He stood before her, his form looming over her as he stood a head taller. "I wish to make a deal with you."

"With me? What?"

"You know how Lady Yuna will answer me, correct? To my proposal?"

"Yes, I do, but… why not just talk to her yourself?"

Rikku felt as if her legs would turn to jelly as he stared long and hard at her, his gaze electrifying. She looked down at the floor, trying to keep her swirling emotions in check. Why did this maester have to be so dangerously handsome?

A finger touched the bottom of her chin, and her breath hitched. The finger brought her head up to face his purple eyes.

"You wanted to know why I asked Lady Yuna to marry me?"

"Yes," she said, and tried to looked away, but he gripped her chin so she couldn't.

"I merely need her for a plan that I have devised."

"What?" Rikku grabbed his hand and pushed it away, irritation coursing its way through her. "You mean you don't love her or anything?"

"No." He leaned in and grabbed her chin again. He confessed in a low tone, and she could feel his heated breath on her mouth. "I love another."

Shock filled her system when she realized what he was getting at. "No way… but…"

She suddenly felt something press against her lips. Alarm shot through her. No man has ever kissed her before!

His mouth left hers, and she stared at him wide-eyed and shocked. "M-Maester Seymour…!"

"You caught my eye the moment I saw you in the manor. An Al Bhed… why is she one of Lady Yuna's guardians, I wondered, since they are against Yevon's teachings? You intrigued me, and you are beautiful. I could not help myself."

She stepped away from him, her pulse at its highest, and her face filled with more heat than it has ever before. "You… no, I can't do that to Yunie. She already said that she wanted to marry you."

She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth. She didn't want to reveal that to him!

"I see," he said. "That is well. What I ask of you is this…" He stood closer to her, and she stood her ground. "I wish for you to be at my side, as well as Lady Yuna. At least, until I have accomplished what I have devised."

She gasped in shock. "Be by your side? As in… a mistress or something? No way!"

"You do not feel the same way?"

She stared at his beautiful purple eyes and gulped. She thought of Auron.

"I can't say that I do," she confessed. "I mean, I think you're handsome and all, and you're a great maester, but… I don't feel that way about you. I like someone else. I'm sorry."

And she really was. The man had lost his father, and probably wanted as many companions around him as possible for support.

"Very well. You had made your decision."

"Maester Seymour!"

Rikku saw Yuna up near the entrance to the Fayth room. She gasped. "Yunie, did you hear…?"

"I heard everything, and I am glad that Rikku rejected you, Maester Seymour. I would never want to see my dear friend with someone like you."

Rikku's jaw dropped. "Yunie, what are talking about? I thought you wanted to marry him!"

"And I do!"

Seymour chuckled. "That is wonderful, Lady Yuna. I am glad that you accept my proposal."

"I will accept it on one condition," she said, and Rikku noticed the seriousness in her eyes. "I know what you have done. I have seen your father's sphere detailing how he died. I will only marry you if you turn yourself in to Yevon!"

"Yunie, what are you talking about? What has Maester Seymour…?"

He held up a hand in front of Rikku's face, imploring her to stop speaking. He smiled cynically. "Oh, Lady Yuna, what you are accusing me of is far from what a summoner should be accusing a master of."

"What?" Rikku asked, desperately wanting to know. "Yunie, what the heck are you talking about?"

"Maester Seymour, confess that you killed your father!"

Rikku gasped as Yuna's demand echoed through the large room. Shock stung Rikku's body so sharply, that she buckled to the floor. Tears stung her eyes. "No…"

"I will confess to nothing that is not true," he said in a booming voice. "My father was a liar, and never cared for me. That is why he is accusing me of something so terrible and unforgivable."

"He said you have to be stopped," Yuna said. "You are using Yevon and the summoners to accomplish your own evil devices."

Maester Seymour's features turned grim. "And how do you suggest you stop me? Will simply marrying me convince me to change my plans?"

Rikku's heart dropped. What Yuna was accusing him of was true!

"I ask you to turn yourself in," Yuna repeated. "Do what is right!"

He chuckled, and the sound sent shivers through Rikku's body. "But I am, Lady Yuna."

The door's to the room suddenly opened and Rikku bolted up at seeing her friends entering the room, weapons in hand.

"Seymour!" Tidus shouted.

"No need to shout," said the evil maester.

"We know what you have done," Auron said, and Rikku stared at him, shocked.

"How did you all find out?" she asked.

"You knew?" Wakka demanded. "He's a father killer!"

Yuna ran to them and they all surrounded her. Rikku felt sick to her stomach. A man who not only Yuna, but all her friends, accused of killing his own father, said that he was in love with her and wanted her to be his mistress while he was married to her cousin! A man who was a Maester of Yevon! If she didn't have the pure desire to put him in his place, she would let herself be sick all over the temple floor.

"Ah, the guardians giving their lives to protect their summoner—the Oath of the Gaurdian." Maester Seymour pulled out his sword. "Well, if you are giving your lives, I will just have to take them."

The group commenced battling Maester Seymour, Rikku with tears in her eyes from the shock of finding out his dark secret. She knew he noticed as she ran up to wack him with her claw weapon, and she hesitated when Auron demanded that she make another move. After Yuna summoned an aeon, and gave its attack and disappeared, all became still. Maester Seymour hunched over the floor, breathing heavily.

"Do you all know what you have just done?" he wheezed. "You will pay for this!"

He suddenly fell backwards and let out a final breath. He died.

Those tears fell from Rikku's eyes as Yuna walked up to the lifeless maester and closed his eyes.

"No…!" Rikku wailed. "What have we done?!"

"I can't believe that we killed Maester Seymour!" Wakka said.

"He was right—we will pay for this," said Lulu.

As if that were the queue, Tromell and two other Guado men came into the room and saw their precious maester lifeless on the floor.

"What has happened?!" Tromell demanded. "What have you done in here?!"

"You guys didn't know how evil your master was!" Wakka said. "Send him, Yuna!"

"No!" Tromell said as Yuna was about to dance. "You traitors! You will be punished!"

"Traitors?" Yuna gasped, horrified.

The two other Guado men came after them and Auron demanded that everyone run. Rikku ran as fast as she could with her friends out of the temple. They suddenly faced a large machine ready to battle them.

"Another Al Bhed invasion?!" Wakka shouted. "You have to be kidding me!"

"What are talking about, Al Bhed invasion?" Rikku asked.

"We had to battle a bunch of Al Bhed and their machina before we came into the temple!"

Rikku silently cursed the innate trackers that she and her people have so they could find each other. It was probably her brother who found them, thinking that she was with them.

The machine started attacking, and the group finished it off… only as it fell, it went through the ice, and them with it.