Cid was sleeping when the call came in. To be woken up did not make him very happy at all. He had thought that the Ronso had better manners then this.

"Yeah, what do you want? Make it quick." He warned before the other person had a chance to respond.

"Gerrik sorry. But I have news that you would want to know about. There is a man here you must talk to."

"Look, I ain't talking to no one! I am a busy man with things to do. Unless this has anything to do with that, I suggest you call back later."

But the Ronso was not daunted. "Even if that man happens to be named...Auron?"

Cid paused in the middle of his rant. What was he doing back on Spira? But if he truly was back, perhaps he could help answer a few questions. "I'll be there in two hours." He finally said before turning off his end of the line.

Just as he said he would, Cid was knocking on the Ronso's door two hours later. He had pushed the airship as fast as it would go just to do it. Garrick opened the door and said nothing as he showed the bald man where Auron lay.

Cid nodded his thanks as he pulled a chair up next to the bed. Auron was sleeping once more but it appeared as if his dreams were full of nightmares. The man tossed and turned as if trying to get away from them. Cid watched him struggle for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder to wake him up.

Auron's eyes shot open and he reached out to grasp the appendage on his shoulder. His knuckles began to turn white from the pressure. His breathing was labored until he calmed down.

He turned his head to see Cid next to him. Gradually he released the hand. Cid shook some feeling back into it as he spoke. "Must have been some dream. I thought you were going to break my hand."

"My apologies. However, I would like to know why you are here."

"I could ask you the same thing you know."

"Hmm, I suppose you have a point." Auron shifted until he was sitting in a more comfortable position. "I have been sent back to Spira."

"I can see that. The question is why?"

Running one hand down his face, he answered. "An easy question to answer, but the reasons are not." At Cid's confused expression he went on. "I have been sent to find Rikku. It appears she also has left the farplane. But do not get too excited yet. She is not the person we knew her to be."

"Wait, what are you saying about my little girl?" He stood as if that intimidated the man on the bed.

Auron closed his eyes as he attempted to regain control of the conversation. "Again, I apologize. I understand this must be hard for you." He swiveled his hips so that his feet dangled inches from the floor. With one small push from his hands, he was standing next to Cid. "I mean no harm in telling you what is occurring, but it must be said now before you hear this from others.

"Rikku is not who she used to be. Someone has changed her so much, that even the fayth cannot find her. They have sent me in their place to bring her back."

"And you think you can do this?" Cid mocked.

"We will soon find out."

--

Yuna and Tidus had been dropped off at the north shore of the Moonflow just as they requested. The walk to Guadosalam would take just over two days. They made sure they had enough supplies before leaving the airship.

Together they walked in silence both of them worried about what they might find, but neither one wanting to say it. They rested when they needed then moved on. Yuna was worried about what might happen, but needed the closure. By the time they arrived in the city, it was too late to do much more then find the inn.

It was early the next morning when Yuna woke up. She was just getting out of the shower when Tidus opened his eyes.

"Morning!" She greeted.

"Uh, what time is it?" He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as she moved about the room searching for clothing to wear.

"The sun came up about two hours ago. I waited for you, but you slept in."

"Two hours ago? How can you tell, we're underground!" He roughly rolled over as if to hide from the day.

"Com'on, wake up sleepyhead!" Yuna, now wearing pants and the towel, pulled the covers off of his body. She giggled as he almost rolled to the floor.

"Yuna! You are way too happy for this time." He complained. He paused after saying it. "Wait a minute." He suddenly jumped from the bed and grabbed her shoulders holding tight. "This isn't normal, not for today." Yuna stared at him as if he was crazy. "We are going to visit the farplane, are you sure you are okay with it?"

She tried to grin, to show she was alright, but it didn't work as well as she hoped. Instead small tears ran down her cheeks. "I'm scared. I really want to go to make sure everything is alright, but..but what if it's not? What will we do if Rikku isn't there?"

Tidus pulled her close to himself and stroked her hair. "I'm not sure, but we will think of something together. I promise you."

Yuna sniffed before lifting her face. "You do?"

"I do. Now hurry up and let's get dressed. We have someone to visit."

--

He seemed so distant now. After retrieving the Aeon Soul, it was almost as if Seymour wanted nothing to do with Rikku any more. But she knew that couldn't be right. Seymour cared about her, she could feel it. Or were her feelings wrong? It was time to find out being since the last time he had asked about her was two days ago. She stood from her chair behind her vanity and carefully plodded her way to his office. As expected he was sitting behind his desk examining the spherical object in his hand.

Anger began to fill her and perhaps a little jealousy. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides. "Seymour?"

He looked up and smiled at her. "Ah, Rikku. I had hoped you would come to me soon. We have to go on a little trip. This sphere.." He held up the object, "is calling me. We must visit each temple all over Spira."

Her stance relaxed and she took another step into the room. "But what does that have to do with me?"

Seymour smirked at her innocence. "You my dear are the key to entering each one. Without you, we will not be able to do as it calls us to do." He stood from his seat and crossed the room next to her. Gently he took her hand and pulled her closer to him. One hand cupped her cheek as he stared into her eyes. The other rested on her shoulder before moving down. It settled just above her heart. "Keep that in mind when we enter." He whispered into her ear before something felt as if it entered in her body under his right hand.

Rikku gasped several times as her body adjusted to the new sensation. "What..what?" She tried to ask, but her legs gave way and she used one hand to cover the spot where it entered. She fell to the floor still trying to control herself.

He stepped away and watched her struggle. "The Aeon Soul will be hidden inside you where it cannot be found. I cannot risk losing it now."

Tears began stinging her eyes as she used one hand to reach out to him. Suddenly she wished she had never come to see him, never tried to confront him. Her insides felt as if they were being rearranged. The sphere was taking up its own place in her body. She wanted to cry out, make him stop the pain, but it only became worse. Just as she felt she could take no more, a hand reached down and grasped her own.

"That is enough. Do not struggle so much, the pain will lessen when you do." He pulled her to her feet and held her body close to his own.

Rikku relaxed and the pain began to disappear. His soft words bringing comfort to her soul. She began to breath at a much more normal pace as the pain went away.

"As I have told you. Now, get some rest. We have a lot to do in the morning."

--

The barrier was just ahead, but her steps faltered. Yuna wasn't sure if she wanted to know the truth any more.

Tidus turned when he noticed her hesitation. "It will be okay. We can't do anything more unless we know for sure, right?"

"I suppose you're right. Alright, let's go." Now with the confidence she needed, she followed him beyond the colored veil. There was only peaceful silence to greet them on the other side. Water fell from high perches on both sides of the rock they stood on. They moved to the edge and watched as a thin mist moved away leaving behind a meadow of beautiful flowers in its wake.

"This is a wonderful place. Rikku would be so happy here." She smiled in memory of her friend and cousin.

Tidus agreed with her. "Yeah, she would." He closed his eyes and thought about what she had last looked like. Opening his eyes, he was expecting to see his friend. It came as a surprise when she didn't show. "What the..?"

"She's not here." Yuna whispered in shock. "What could have happened?"

"I don't know. But it's a mystery I plan on solving, no matter what."

--

Sorry, I know it's so very short. It took me about three weeks just the write this. Let me say how writer's block is a pedlr. Hopefully next time I'll have more, but I needed to post something before you all complain that I disappeared! Gin