Gagazet

Auron watched with a certain fond pride as Yuna – sweet, soft-spoken Yuna – faced down the Ronso maester. And he nearly laughed aloud when the Maester himself – all eight feet of him, not counting his horn – acknowledged that while she was soft and gentle, she had a stronger will than the Ronso.

Lulu rolled her eyes. She should have known that those Ronso bullies couldn't leave Kimahri alone. She supposed that males of all species were stupid about things like that. And Kimahri did win the fight, after all… so the visit to the Ronso settlement earned them respect for two of their fellowship. Not bad.

Wakka didn't like seeing himself in the two Ronso bullies. True, their dislike for Kimahri was more personal than racial, but it was still unreasoning. He looked at Rikku, who gave him a cheery wink, which lightened his mood considerably. At least he had redeemed himself with her… she didn't think he was a racist ass anymore.

Rikku couldn't believe it. Again? Why would this Seymour just not die? Then it hit her. He had killed the Ronso. All the Ronso. When she took a hit and went down she was glad. It meant a few minutes of not having to face anything hard. Not Yuna's pilgrimage, not what Seymour had done. Just the quiet.

But they survived it. And they went on.

Something had happened to Tidus when he was unconscious in the Chamber with all the Fayth inside – something more than the blacking out and dreaming he claimed. Wakka and Rikku were sure of it, especially after all the time the three of them spent fighting together in the watery caverns on the way to the pinnacle. Tidus was quieter, more mature, and it had happened awfully quickly to be just the realization that they were nearing the end of the pilgrimage.

By the time they defeated the Sanctuary Keeper, Rikku was despairing of getting Yuna to quit the pilgrimage. Tidus seemed to think they would find what they needed in Zanarkand, but Rikku wasn't so sure. That night, they looked over the dark ruins of the city, and one by one they all gave silent encouragement to Yuna. She went off to her tent with Tidus, Auron and Lulu to his tent, leaving Rikku, Wakka, and Kimahri around the fire. Rikku stared at the flames, and then looked up as a pair of large blue-gray hairy feet stopped in her field of vision. "What can I do for you, Kimahri?" she asked, wearily. "Rikku can do nothing for Kimahri. Rikku and Wakka can do much for each other. Kimahri will watch the camp." He handed her the Glorious Targe and said, "Rikku be careful of fiends." She smiled at him, and held her hand out to Wakka, who took it and whispered, "Time for a walk, ya?"

They walked toward the Save Sphere, hand in hand, knowing it was the safest place where they could be alone. They had no sooner gotten there than Rikku hurled herself at Wakka, wrapping her limbs around him, kissing him for all she was worth. She kissed his lips, his face, his neck, anywhere she could reach before he let out a muffled, "Stop! Rikku, what are you doing?" She backed away, hurt but trying not to show, it and put on her playful face. "If you don't know what I'm doing, Wakka, I'm doing it wrong." She tried hard to conceal the rejection she felt but he had become a lot less oblivious the last few days… he spotted it right away. And he got serious. "Rikku, that was not only not done wrong, it was done as right as I've ever experienced. Or even heard of, ya? I just… I've never – you know – never… ah… " She rescued him. "Neither have I, Wakka. But I want to. With you, so… maybe we could learn together?" She drew him down to the ground near the Save Sphere, and began again, much more slowly this time.

She started with his lips, and he responded by gently kissing her back. She tasted so sweet… he whispered her name and slid his mouth around to her ear; under the little braids she wore. She sighed in contentment and let her head fall back against his supporting arm. She breathed his name and let her arms go around his neck, pulling him close. He groaned at the feeling of her against him, and she moaned, feeling his heart jump against hers and his breaths grow uneven on her neck. "Wakka… please, love me. I need to feel cherished before I can face tomorrow. Please." He pulled back to look into her spiral-pupiled green eyes with his deep brown. Hers spoke to him with the sheen of tears and he gathered her close again, kissing her gently on the lips.

Kimahri stood by the fire, alert for fiend activity. The people of his birth were gone, assuming Seymour was telling the truth. But his true people – his family – were here with him.