A/N: And here's the last chapter. Like I said, a short story. Hope you liked it. :D

Chapter 4 - Auron

I blame Kimahri.

The Ronso didn't say much, but when he did, it was all the more profound. I looked up to him as an older and wiser creature. He had a patience and wisdom that I could never hope to have in this lifetime or the next.

He was the one I went to when Rikku and I parted ways, the one I asked for advice. My blue friend only shook his head when I told him what happened and didn't say anything. I was rather disappointed. Not even a single word. I could have used some of his wisdom at that moment in my life. But looking back now, I realize in those first few days I wasn't asking him the right questions. 'What should I do?' Honestly. What did I expect him to say to that? There wasn't an answer he could have given me that would have satisfied. I had to realize some answers on my own. And after a few months, I started asking the right questions.

That day I came to him after I'd had an epiphany, he looked at me as though I were a slow child that had finally learned a valuable lesson. I couldn't hold that against him, he was right to look at me that way. How idiotic I'd been all this time. All the times before.

Wow, all those years wasted. To think if I had been less prideful, less stoic and unfeeling, I could be with the woman I loved...had been in love with for years, since the pilgrimage. How had I not realized it before?

I grunted at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I knew why. I was so determined to spend this life alone, I was sure I didn't deserve anything, especially a beautiful girl that was full of life. Penance for my sins from years gone by. The old Yevon religion might not have been in place anymore, but I still believed in their version of damnation.

Kimahri had been very patient with me. More so than I would have been, were I him. He explained, in limited words, that my way of thinking was completely backwards, that because of my past I deserved so much more than this lifetime would be able to grant me. I deserved a life well spent. And that meant a life spent with someone that cared for me.

Someone like Rikku.

No. Not someone like her. Just her.

Only her.

I shook myself of my thoughts. Right, it was time to do something about all of this. Kimahri was right, Rikku and I deserved each other. As hard as the past six months had been being away from my friends, I knew that I had needed the change of scenery. And I needed the proverbial 'swift kick in the pants' that my Ronso friend hadn't hesitated to deliver.

I got dressed quickly, throwing on whatever happened to be on the top of the hamper. Grabbing my coat and my keys, I locked up and waited impatiently on the elevator, tapping my foot in frustration. It arrived after forever and I was soon on the ground floor and making my way outdoors into the cool evening air. Paine had left only an hour before and our conversation was still fresh on my mind. I had hurt Rikku, very badly. I knew this. I had been haunted by it during my stay in Gagazet. I cursed my reaction to her on that day we'd last seen each other and I cursed how I hadn't gone after her and begged for her forgiveness.

I smirked slightly at that thought. The old Auron would never have begged anyone for anything. I wouldn't have done a lot of things, and therein was the problem. But I realized now that showing my feelings, even a little, was better than a life wasted.

I walked a little faster down the sidewalk. I had time to make up for, after all.

I stood outside the door to their apartment, contemplating what I would say. How, exactly, I would grovel and if Rikku would ever take me back. There were hushed voices on the other side of the door, speaking so low I couldn't hear what was being said. I hated to just barge in on them, but I had to do it now or I would certainly lose my nerve.

I pounded on the door, four loud raps.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

The hushed voices ceased and I called out "Rikku", thinking that one of the persons standing on the other side of the door was her. My voice cracked and I sounded broken, even to my own ears, but I didn't think about it. There was a noise just a few seconds later, but I couldn't make it out. More voices, and then it was quiet again. I stood for a few moments more until I heard the chain slide from the door. The door opened wide, revealing Paine and, I noticed just a moment later, Yuna. There was no sign of Rikku.

I looked back and forth between the faces of the two girls, waiting for them to either let me in or slam the door in my face. After a few moments, I walked in without invitation, deciding that they had probably forgotten their manners at my sudden appearance. I entered the living room and swung around, facing the ex-summoner and her warrior friend.

"Where's Rikku?" I bluntly asked, skipping all the formalities.

Before either of them could answer, there was a loud "No!" from somewhere down the hall, a very audible lock clicking into place and a stereo being turned up at a very loud volume. I glanced down the hallway and then back at Yuna and Paine, both pointing in the direction of Rikku's bedroom. Straight to the point, I liked that. I smiled at them with a false sense of hope and strode with purpose towards the door that seemed to pulse with very loud trance music.

I banged on the door. The only response was an increase in the volume of music. This time I yelled "Rikku!" but still didn't get anywhere.

Several more minutes were spent either knocking, yelling, jiggling the door knob, or a combination of the three. A light tap on my shoulder revealed that Yuna was standing just a few inches behind me. She said nothing, but held up a finger as if to say 'wait a moment'. She then reached into her hair, extracted a pin and proceeded to pick the lock to Rikku's room. I'm sure the look on my face was priceless. After all, who would suspect that the former High Summoner was that stealthy. I would have expected something like that from Paine or Rikku, but never Yuna.

Yuna worked diligently while my thoughts wandered and at last she completed her task. The lock clicked, hopefully with Rikku non the wiser, and I nodded as way of thanks. Yuna only smiled, somewhat sneakily I might add, before she backed away and disappeared into the living room once again.

I counted to ten and took several deep breaths before twisting the knob and shoving the door open. Rikku, who had been pacing her room with a look of fear on her face, froze like a chocobo in headlights. I took the opportunity to walk forward and shut the door behind me. That seemed to wake her from her trance.

"Get out." she yelled over the music that was blaring at a deafening volume.

I silenced the stereo, conveniently near the door, with the push of a button. Ah, now I could hear. "No," I stated as I walked forward a step. She took one step back to compensate.

Gulping, she repeated "Get. Out."

No response from me this time, just another step forward. She took several steps back until she hit the wall. Panicked and with nowhere to go, she started to sniffle. "Please Auron, just...go. I can't deal with this right now. I can't..."

"Rikku, I'm sorry."

"No. No! 'I'm sorry' isn't enough. It wasn't then and it isn't now." She sunk to the floor, drawing her knees up and hiding her face in them. "Why couldn't you just stay away?"

I walked towards her until I stood before her crying form on the ground. Kneeling, I reached out and touched her face gingerly, so as not to startle her. She looked up, those beautiful green swirling eyes of hers wet with tears shed over what I had done.

"No more, Rikku. No more tears. Please."

She sobbed even harder and I sat on the floor, taking her into my arms while she cried her little heart out. I stroked her hair until her sobs quieted down. Exhausted, she fell into a fitful slumber in my embrace and I savored the moment, hoping that it wasn't the last time I she would ever be here, though not under the same conditions. Gathering her up, I managed to stand without jarring her too much and set her in her bed.

How long I stood there watching her, I don't know, but eventually she stirred. She wasn't surprised to see me still in her room, she looked more resigned than anything else. She sat up and I perched on the end of the bed, facing her, feeling that she wanted to get something off her chest.

"I said I'd..." She took a breath, and looked at her hands where they sat idly in her lap. "I said I'd never fall in love with you again. But I...I never stopped." She nearly choked up with sobs again, but held herself very well. "I don't know how to get over you, though. And I should. After the way you acted, I shoulda been happy just to hate you the rest of my life, but I couldn't." She finally looked up at me and met my stare. "I love you, Auron. I know you don't feel the same way, but it doesn't matter..."

I interrupted her before she could go down this road. "Rikku, I didn't come here to make you feel worse, or to rub in your face that I was back in Luca. I never wanted to hurt you to begin with. I just...didn't know what I wanted. Sometimes I'm still not sure, but if my stay in Gagazet has taught me anything, it's that I can't...I can't..." I choked.

Even now, after all the heartache and the realizations and everything, I couldn't express how I really felt. What the hell was wrong with me? The old Auron wouldn't let go. It made me angry that even now, in front of the woman I loved, that I couldn't even tell her my true feelings. I balled up my fists, determined that I could and would tell her. What she chose to do with that information was up to her, though, Gods, I did hope that she'd give me a second chance whether I deserved it or not.

I cleared my throat and tried again. "Rikku..." Dammit. Just say it.

She leaned forward and put her hand over mine, trying to reassure me while she herself was in distress. It spoke volumes of her compassion. That even when she was crying, her heart breaking, expecting me to reject her, that she could even think of someone else's feelings... I looked her straight in the eye and read the pure emotion that emanated from them. She was such an innocent, beautiful creature. Kimahri was right, I deserved her and her love. She deserved mine.

"Rikku, I can't live w-without you." I stuttered, so unlike me. I looked down, not brave enough to see her reaction. "I've been such a fool these past months. You gave your heart to me and I believed myself undeserving. And maybe I still am. But I can't lie to you..."

There were sobs and I looked up just in time to catch her as she launched herself into my arms. She smelled sweet and her embrace was filled with warmth and love. I still had to push away the voice in my head that said she was too good for me. It would take a long time before that part of me was silent, but I was willing to work on it.

"Do you really mean it?"

"Yes, I really do."

She pulled back and examined my face, looking for the confirmation in my expression. She must have liked what she saw because she hugged me close to her once again, a huge smile on her face. I took this positively, but I still had to ask.

"Does this mean you're willing to give me a second chance?"

She nodded, and whispered, "Yes, I am. And a third, fourth, and fifth chance if that's what it takes."

"I don't think I'll need that many," I chuckled.

"Say it, Auron."

I stilled, my embrace tightening as the words swirled inside my head. She spoke again at my hesitation, somehow knowing that I needed the moment to collect my thoughts. "Say it just one time..."

I grinned. "Just once? Never." We laughed together, our embrace never breaking.

"Say you love me." The woman I loved demanded an answer from me and I couldn't let her down, now could I?

I nuzzled against her ear, placing kisses along her neck. "Rikku," I practically purred, "I love you."

She shivered at my contact and the words, feeling the weight of the emotion that I put behind them.

"You promise?"

"Yeah, I promise."

She kissed me fully on the lips, surprising me with her force. After a moment she pulled away and looked at me playfully. "Good. Because for a minute there I thought I was gonna have to send Paine after you."

I coughed and averted my eyes. Rikku just gave me a look. "What?"

"It's funny you should say that..."

~fin~