Okay, I'm back with a vengeance, and I hope you all enjoy the story so far.

Couple of anouncements:

Numbah one- thank you to Vandevere, Jaymo, Gining, imindenial, Omniscient Squirrel, Jasmine107, and potatolover for your wonderful reviews! I take your advice seriously, so don't stop please:) And I've now enabled anonymous reviewing, so hopefully I'll be able to get more advice well-deserved.

Numbah Two -Presents! I've added two new chapters in one update. Just to make up for the crappy last one. This chappie will be about the earlier favorable situation (hehehehe) and the next one will be about the travel agency. (It's quite long too, so be happy)

Enjoy your gifts, slaves-I mean, fans... XD

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Rikku

WHY ARE WE HERE?!

Alright, I know we have to get through this pilgrimage, but couldn't we just…I dunno…rest or something? Maybe hide under a tent? Oh wait, bad idea…tents can catch on fire…

AHHH!!!! THAT ONE ALMOST HIT ME!

I shivered. Stupid Brother…all his fault. The shoopuf couldn't even avoid hitting his own sister…with a goddamn LIGHTNING spell! Couldn't it have been water? Oh but wait…then I would be afraid of rain too…aw man…OH CRED! Gotta watch out, Rikku, don't want to die…

Hey, speaking of which…

I look over at the Red Dead Guardian.

He's just…staring upwards. His eye is closed though…wow, he looks peaceful.

I wonder…how it feels. To walk with the living as an Unsent. It must torture him…I don't think I would enjoy having to be dead and looking at everyone alive around me, happy and smiling. It's surprising though, you'd think I'd be more afraid of him now that he's dead…but it's like this:

He shared that with me and no one else, so-

He didn't share it, you forced him to admit it by making a lame joke…

Quiet. Anyways, he shared it, and no one else knows but me and him. It's like…our little secret. Between an Al Bhed and warrior monk. And that secret was a weakness of his. He was dead, and…I guess he trusted me to keep it. I mean, he could have lied. But he didn't. And that made me feel…strangely happy. He trusts me, and I guess…that makes us kind-of-sorta friends. Heh, the Legendary Guardian wasn't so scary anymore to me. He has hardships too…and it makes him more human. Actually, it's kind of cool. An Unsent, red-coated samurai swordsman wearing sunglasses, with a mysterious death and past. Yevon, that is really sexy-

Wait, what?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!! VILG, THAT WAS A BIG ONE!

After I stop cowering, I feel his eye on me and I look up. He's looking at me with some sort of disgust, and turns his gaze away before I make eye contact. Rikku you are officially an idiot…you ruined his moment! I keep walking, feeling stupid.

I don't get it. Even though I'm mad with fear, I never usually feel embarrassed when people look at me for it. Why is it that when he looks at me with annoyance I'm all flush-and-blush? What is it?? Oh I don't know, just that he may be the most sexiest man in Spira…

I need to stop…

Then I hear his voice, and it sounds funny. "Rikku. Move. NOW." I'm in the process of turning to look at Auron, puzzled. "What?" I start to say.

Suddenly, I see a mass of darkness lunge at me and feel a strong arm yank my waist down and I'm falling. I hold on to whatever's holding me on instinct and brace for impact. Yevon, what now?! There's a rush of wind over my head and I close my eyes. Then, I land on something that gives a slight "oof".

What the vilg just happened to me? I shake my head slowly and realize that what I'm now lying on is…breathing. And…what is that roughness against my cheek? Is it…huh?

Oh my god…no way…rumo lnyb…

I was literally lying on top of Auron. I could feel my face growing hotter by the second. Oh lord, his head was right next to mine, and the roughness against my cheek was the slight brush of his jaw. His arm was still around my waist, and he was on the ground in front of me, giving a slight groan and shake of his head. I look down and notice that I'm grabbing his shoulders tightly, and I feel my legs intertwined with his. I freeze completely, and then notice the slight, nervous stiffness of his muscles. I'm on top of the sexiest man in Spira…his arm is around my waist…his shoulders are under my hands…

GET UP RIKKU! NOW! WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? Oh hell, he probably thinks I'm trying to straddle him or something! Ignore the fact that his chest is so solid and broad! YOU NEED TO GET OFF OF HIM! What'll the others think? It could have looked like you were trying…to…oh my god, just get up!

Thankfully, he lets me move first...my god, his chest was so toned…and big…and even his shoulders were muscled…his head was right next to yours, Rikku, his jaw was so close to your mouth-

STOP IT!!!

I scramble off of him and look down, too scared of my reaction if I were to meet his gaze. He doesn't say anything and rushes off, past me into the battle ensuing between the group and…I turn around…

Holy mother of god, it's an Iron Giant!

I've only ever seen one of them before. It was actually when Pops took me here to pick up some stuff from Rin. The fiend was basically a big human-looking warrior, with a sword the size of three Rikkus head to toe. Its face was covered, so you could only see its creepy bight eyes, and the armor it wore was damn-near impossible to slice through. Unless you equipped a weapon with a piercing ability…

Wait, why am I just standing here? I shake my head and rush after Auron, taking in the scene around me. Lulu and Yuna were casting spells so fast their arms were blurs. Orange-hair was lying on the ground unconscious, the Ronso looked like he was about to drop, and Blondie was still attacking with an arm that looked red from the blood it was losing. Suddenly, the Iron Giant does something really weird…

Wait, it looks like it's gonna…WATCH OUT!

I dodge backwards, barely missing the big-ass sword coming my way. I see Lulu get hit with it though. She stumbles dazedly and leans forward, slightly exhausted. I look to my right and see Auron rush to the giant and give it a punishing blow to the chest. Pretty cool…oh no, it's swinging again! But its armor broke.

Aw hell, there goes Kimhari! Then I hear Auron yelling through the roar of the Giant.

"Yuna, heal! Lulu, keep casting! Try a Watera this time! Rikku, help Yuna with the items! Tidus, up here with me! We attack. GO!"

Got it, chief. I run to Yuna and throw a phoenix down on Wakka. Wakka gets up, mumbles something woozily and shakes his head. I give him a Hi-potion for good measure. Yes, the Al Bhed help Yevonites. Do they return the favor? No, they have to be against US…

I look behind me and see the awesomeness that is Auron and Tidus.

Tidus was a blur, slashing left and right, and giving the Giant a good old-fashioned ride. Auron was taking advantage of this to create more slits in the armor for Tidus. And he swung a few times too. The giant didn't know which way to go, and that allowed them even bigger attacking potential. They were a great team. I watched, amazed, until Yuna called me.

"Rikku! Heal Lulu!" Oh right. I throw a potion to her and watch her stand up straight, shake her braids, and return to casting Watera. Then I turn my head to Red and Blondie. Looks like they needed some help…Giant wasn't going down anytime soon, and Tidus was leaning on his sword, gasping but still going…

Alright, time for me to show it who's boss!

It was perfect. Rikku, you are a genius. A Flash Flood. My secret weapon. I fumble around in my pouch until I feel the coolness of a water gem and the metal layer of a grenade. I pop open the seal on the grenade and throw in the gem. Shakey shake a little bit, and here we go!

"HEADS UP, EVERYONE!" I scream, and as they all dive to the ground, I hurl the grenade as hard as I can towards the Giant's face. I saw it make contact, and the flood began, killing the Giant slowly by repeatedly washing its filthy outer layer with tides of water. HA! Take that, meanie!

The fiend thunders to the ground, erupts in pyreflies, and I stand there, the lone victor, grinning widely. Why am I so damn awesome? No really, explain.

Auron is the first to stand, getting up and looking around at the pyreflies. I stare at him, waiting for his reaction. He looks satisfied, though that DAMN COWL keeps me from seeing his mouth…wait, why do I want to see his mouth?

I walk forward happily, past the rest of the gang and Auron, swinging a little bit just cause I feel like dancing. I turn around and look at the rest of the group once I'm ahead, and inwardly laugh at their shocked expressions. Though my spirits are dampened cause the one person I want approval from doesn't seem to LIKE showing a smile once or twice, the big, stupid…crap, wait, I didn't mean it that way! Ooohhh, Rikku, stop thinking stuff like that!

I punch my fist in the air and dance a little jig. "Flash flood. That's what I call it. Well, better keep moving!"

I turn around and begin to walk. I hear Auron say something in the next few seconds and everyone follows me. Tidus and Yuna are running to catch up. "Nice one!" he yells, with a silly grin on his face.

"Thanks. Though you and Auron were wicked sick. Didn't seem like you needed anything. Yunie, are you okay?" I added, worried that her mana would make her tired or something.

She nods, a smile on her face. "Yes, I'm fine Rikku. That was pretty amazing back there. You're going to be a big help on this pilgrimage." I resist the temptation to wince. She didn't need to make it seem like I was helping her to die! I don't want her to die! Yunie won't die! She WON'T! I'll make sure. When she gets to Zanarkand, I'll…well I'll think of something. Just you wait, Yunie. This stupid pilgrimage'll be over and we'll all go back to Bikanel and live happily ever afte-

AAAAHHHH!!!!!! RUMO CRED, THAT WAS WAY TOO CLOSE!

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Al Bhed:

Holy crap

Holy shit

Glad that's over with. And now, special presentation in the next chapter: FLUFF! BETWEEN AURON AND RIKKU!

…Yes, I know it's done before…but I get one shot to make it worth your while, right? So read on and review please!

-SV