Final Fantasy X-2 and PlayStation are owned by Square Enix and Sony, respectively, meaning they do not belong to me. I am in no way, shape, and/or form claiming to be the owner/creator of these concepts, though I do claim any characters not apart of the original Final Fantasy X or X-2 storylines (such as Rayne and Michael) mine. As such, I would appreciate fellow authors and readers to give credit where credit is due and not steal any of my characters and/or concepts. Thank you, and have a pleasant day.

(Meetings Again)

The ride on the Winno lasted longer than originally intended by even the captain due to bad tides around Kilika, which made the ship circle the island for several hours before they even dared to attempt docking.

It was late evening when the passengers arrived at their destination, and when Rayne asked she found out that the Liki had been delayed until the following morning and she would have to stay in port.

Not that she minded; Rayne actually wanted to take a bit of time to examine the new Kilika Port, anyway.

She remembered, somewhat hazily, what the port had looked like the very first time she had seen it on Braska's pilgrimage, and she remembered perfectly what she had seen of it after Sin had attacked two years ago, but what she saw now shocked her far more than either of her previous experiences had.

Great sheaths of fabric lay strung all about, acting as roofs, overhangs, tablecloths, and rugs all at once. People were running back and forth, buying supplies or simply meeting people they knew. The houses stood on great constructs, elevated several feet above the water, and the fine ocean breeze, heated by the sun, kept everything and everyone warm.

It was almost as if the attack never happened.

Rayne walked around serenely, admiring the sights. She was just about to check into an inn when something caught her eye.

Near the back of the village, standing in front of a grand house in a cozy niche, were Barthello and Dona, apparently arguing.

Remembering that she and the summoner had always been at odds, Rayne simply walked on, heading for the forest. Needless to say, she was surprised when her path to the temple was barred by a guarded gate.

"Halt." One of the guards held up his hand, "None are allowed to enter."

Rayne bristled, "Excuse me?"

"I said no one can go past this point." The guard explained calmly, apparently used to people opposing his orders.

"I wasn't aware that the forest and temple belonged to anyone." Rayne growled, her eyes narrowing, "Who do you work for?"

"The Youth League." The guard said, his voice going monotone as he could tell that this was going to be quite an argument, "If you have any issues with this, I'm afraid you'll have to take it up with a higher official."

"Oh, I will. Next time I'm at Headquarters, I'll speak to Fereria and Nooj about this."

The guard balked, glancing at his partner nervously, "You… know Captain Fereria and Meyvn Nooj?"

This gave Rayne an idea, and she laughed to herself, keeping her exterior frosty, "Fereria is a close personal friend of mine, and I just had a meeting with her and Nooj this afternoon."

The guards fidgeted, then the one she was talking to opened the gate and nodded to her, "Please, go on in."

'You're a bitch, you know that?' Part of Rayne chastised as she walked through the gate.

"But more often than not," Rayne countered, smirking, "The bitch gets what she wants, if she plays her cards right."

As she walked through the forest, Rayne stuck to the smaller side paths in order to run into as little resistance as possible, which wasn't to say she was able to get through unopposed. Actually, quite the opposite.

"So what if you've met the Meyvn and who cares of you know Captain Fereria?" One of the guards she met on the path to the temple asked, frowning and crossing his arms, "Unless you have clearance, you aren't allowed to be here."

Rayne blinked, "The guards at the gate didn't seem to care."

The forest guard scowled, "Those guys were put at the front gate because they have better public relation skills than the rest of us do. We don't take shit in here. If you don't have clearance, you don't belong here."

"I only came to check on the tem—"

"The temple is fine." The guard interrupted, "There are plenty of New Yevonites up there to make sure of that. Now," He nodded back towards the gate, "Head on back to the town, Ma'am."

Rayne made to protest, but the guard just sighed and grabbed her arm, turning her around and walking her back to the entrance of the forest.

Too shocked by his forwardness to protest, Rayne let him lead her back, though she did drag her feet a bit.

At the gate, she walked through and back into the city, her hands shoved into her pockets.

'What was that about the bitch getting what she wanted?' Rayne's vindictive mind asked, a smirk clear in her voice.

"Shut up." Rayne muttered, heading for the inn. "Room for one, please."

"That'll be 200 gil." The receptionist said, smiling. Rayne handed her the money and the receptionist handed her the key.

In her room, Rayne took off her hat and cloak and threw them across one side of the bed, flopping down on the other side and falling straight to sleep.

The next day Rayne boarded the Liki in the early morning, pacing the deck the whole ride to Besaid as she practiced what to say to Wakka and Lulu.

"Hi, you two. Remember me? It's Rayne— no!" She leaned against the railing, staring out over the ocean, "Yo, it's Rayne… that's even worse." Rayne slammed her head against the railing, letting out a long sigh, "Jeez, I hope I don't have to see Yuna again. That'd been even more difficult than this…"

Sighing again, Rayne lifted her head and looked at the horizon, watching the gulls fly in pace with the ship.

All around her cheery voices ran out, children laughed, and gulls cried. Already, she could feel Besaid slipping back into her blood, surrounding her with its warm familiarity and welcoming her back.

But she was nervous.

No length of time could take away her memories or deter her so that wasn't the issue, but being 'dead' for two ears would certainly be an obstacle to overcome.

All too soon the island came into view, and Rayne found herself pacing again, her stomach churning painfully and her muscles tense.

When the boat docked she was the last passenger off, and she spent a good ten minutes just staring at the pier, one of the crewmen actually having to gently push her onto the ramp before she began walking, mechanically, to the village.

Her mind was numb as she walked through the entrance, and her body carried her, without any commands from her befuddled brain, straight to Wakka and Lulu's tent, her old home.

The two former guardians looked up as she walked in, Wakka standing when he didn't recognize her and crossing his arms.

"Can we help you with somethin'?"

Rayne opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Instead, she raised her hand slowly and gripped the brim of her hat, pausing before she took it off, slowly lowering it, her eyes on the ground.

After a moment, she slowly looked up into the shocked faces of her two former, fellow guardians, smiling uneasily, "Hey."

Wakka stumbled back and sat back down, just staring at her.

After a moment, Lulu stood and walked towards her, reaching out and unclasping her cloak. As the cloth fell to the ground, Lulu gasped.

"It is you…" She muttered.

Rayne's body trembled, "Lu…"

Lulu's lower lip quivered, then she lunged forward, her arms wrapping around Rayne and holding her tightly, an action Rayne quickly returned. After a moment, another pair of strong, bronze arms wrapped around the women.

"Lady Rayne…" Wakka muttered.

Rayne smiled, "Wakka… Lulu…" She lowered her head, clinging to Lulu desperately, "I'm so sorry…"

"Rayne… what happened?" Lulu asked, backing away, "I thought that you and Sir Auron…" Her eyes widened, "Is he—"

"Auron is dead." Rayne nodded, "I was resurrected by the fayth in order to complete one final mission for them." She then noticed the way Wakka was still holding Lulu and smiled, "Are you two together?"

"Married." Wakka nodded, smiling, "And Lu's about to have a baby, ya."

"A baby?!" Rayne gapped at Lulu, who nodded and smiled. Rayne smiled back, "Lu, that's great!"

Lulu nodded, her smile faltering as her eyes began to water.

Rayne felt herself tearing up, then she and Lulu lunged at each other again, hugging. Rayne heard Wakka choke back a sob and saw the man turn away out of the corner of her eye.

"After you…" Lulu trailed off, unable to say 'died', "Yuna was upset for so long… We all were. Seeing you back," Lulu pulled back, holding Rayne at arm length and smiling, "It's painful… but in a good way." She paused, "How long have you been back?"

"…Two years." Rayne admitted, stepping back and lowering her gaze, "When I found myself alive… and alone… I couldn't…"

"It's alright." Lulu nodded when Rayne looked up, "We understand." They were silent for a moment, then Lulu abruptly said, "You're staying. For three days, at the very least."

"Of course." Rayne nodded, smiling, "I'll stay for as long as you can stand me."

"We could stand you forever, Lady Rayne." Wakka smiled.

"Thanks… And Wakka?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't call me 'Lady'."

Wakka and Lulu insisted on telling the entire village of Rayne's return, saying that they had all been distraught when they heard of her death and would be overjoyed to see her again.

Rayne, though, wouldn't let them; not only would they not be able to explain how she had come back to life, she didn't want news of her return flooding out all at once. She felt it would be better if it were gradual.

There was also another reason, though Rayne didn't tell the couple; she didn't want Yuna knowing.

If Yuna was going to know of her return, she wanted to tell the girl, herself. And she wasn't sure she was ready for her to know.

So, Wakka and Lulu let Rayne keep herself secret, and as she stayed with the young couple they told her of everything that had happened with their own lives after they defeated Sin.

"Yuna became the most popular person in all of Spira; like a guru in a lot of ways." Wakka shook his head, "People made reservations for meetings with her months in advanced, and some made entire pilgrimages from as far as the Calm Lands to see her."

"Then, a few months ago, Rikku suddenly appeared with a sphere." Lulu went on. "According to Wakka, it showed footage of a man who…" She looked to Wakka, who raised his hands helplessly.

"He looked like Tidus." Wakka said bluntly, "I thought it kinda weird, since he dove from the ship after the fayth were sent over the Calm Lands. We all thought he was sent with them, since he kinda was one of them, but there he was, on a sphere. It was enough for Yuna, and she went with Rikku to look for more clues."

Rayne nodded slowly, taking it all in. Then, in an attempt to change the topic to something lighter, she asked, "Where's Kimahri?"

"Gagazet." Wakka answered, nodding seriously, "A few Ronso survived the massacre, and Kimahri rose up to lead them. He's the elder now, and we haven't seen him in two years or heard from him in a few months. He's probably alright, though. After all, he is Kimahri, ya?"

"What about you?" Lulu asked, "Where have you been staying? What have you been doing? And what happened to…" She looked at Rayne's stomach, obviously referring to her baby.

"After I woke in the Farplane, I made my way north." Rayne began, "I was headed for Zanarkand, I suppose, but I didn't make it passed Bevelle before I went into labor. I had my son in the city, then continued and wound up at Remiem in the Calm Lands. Up until a few days ago, I stayed there."

"A boy?" Wakka asked, smiling, "What'd you name him? Where is he?"

"Michael." Rayne answered, "After his uncle, my brother. And he's…" She lowered her gaze, "He's with an old friend of Auron's, at the Youth League Headquarters in Mushroom Rock."

Knowing better than to ask, Lulu went on, "What made you leave Remiem?"

Rayne shrugged, "I thought it was time for a change of scenery. After some business in Bevelle, I made my way to Mushroom Rock, and from there Luca, and then I decided it was about time I came here, so here I am."

"You've had a long journey." Lulu observed, standing, "Come, Wakka. Let's give Rayne some time to rest. And you will use out home." Lulu stared at Rayne, her gaze leaving no room for argument, "You have come too far and done too much to deny yourself a nap, now lie down."

With a sigh, Rayne complied, not realizing how tired she was until she had laid down on the comfortable, familiar, and well-worn bed she hadn't slept on for three years. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out, resting like she hadn't been able to for so long; comfortably.

The next day, Rayne hurried about Wakka and Lulu's home, her hat firmly on her head as she desperately searched for her cloak. She had to find it before they showed up.

She had seen the red ship from Luca hover nearby the village, so she could only assume that Yuna, Rikku and Paine were moments away.

"You don't want Yuna to see you?" Lulu asked, holding out the green fabric that was Rayne's cloak.

"No." Rayne muttered, taking the proffered material and clasping it around her shoulders, at her throat, "Not yet."

Lulu looked at the door, suddenly quieting her voice as she muttered, "Too late."

The blanket covering the door was pushed aside as three young, feminine figures walked in, stopping in front of the doorway.

Yuna clasped her hands behind her back and smiled at her old, darkly dressed guardian, "Hello, Lulu." The young woman then turned to Rayne, blinking. "You…"