A/N: Hey, sorry it took me so long! No answers quite yet, but soon, I promise.

Chapter Fifteen

The next three months passed more slowly than Rikku wanted. No matter what she did, nothing gave her a rush. Hunting spheres, killing fiends, laughing with her friends. Nothing. Not that they were around a whole lot anyway. She still felt things, just with less intensity. She only got a little bit sad, or a little bit happy. Brother, for the first time in his life, found himself winning their arguments, simply because Rikku couldn't summon a whole lot of anger to fight with. Yuna put it down to heartache, and decided that it would get better if left alone. When that didn't happen, she decided that she needed to repay a favour, and spend two years – if she had to – incessantly trying to cheer Rikku up. Tidus became an honorary Gullwing as he and Yuna joined Rikku on the Celsius for a while.

They found a few more spheres, went on a few more fiend hunts. Didn't uncover anymore threats to the existence of Spira, much to Rikku's annoyance, since at least the idea of global destruction might have proved distracting. She appreciated Yuna's sentiment, she really did, but being a third wheel wasn't fun by anybody's standards. Or, more like a fifth wheel when Paine and Baralai were around. It was only a couple of weeks since she'd healed Auron when the news came – he was engaged. Rikku took the news like a physical blow, because it felt like one. The hole where her heart should have been ached with a life-sapping pain that made her feel weak and lethargic for days. When Yuna told her, it was in a very gentle, quiet voice like made Rikku feel like she was suffering from a terminal illness. Yuna couldn't have known how accurate she was, though she got very concerned when all the colour drained from her cousin's face and left her a ghastly shade of grey. But Rikku only nodded. "Ok."

"Ok? Is that all you're going to say?"

"What else do I say, Yuna?"

"Well…I…" Her shoulders slumped. Rikku was right. There wasn't anything she could say. "Are you alright?"

Rikku only looked at her, heartbreak evident in her swirly green eyes, and shrugged. "No. But then you knew that."

"Rikku-"

"Thank you for telling me, Yuna. I think I'm going to bed."

She left without another word, and Yuna could only stare helplessly at the midday sun outside the window, and mourn for her younger cousin. For herself, Rikku was quite proud. She didn't cry. She didn't storm at the sky or yell at her Brother. She didn't even drink. She figured it was sake that had caused all this mess to begin with, so she was better off staying away from it. It wasn't so hard really. She just kept reminding herself that if she got drunk, she'd wind up in bed with Gippal – with or without sex – and have to deal with another potentially disastrous situation in the morning.

Despite things being about as disasteriffic that they're going to get. Besides, she'd fucked Gippal around long enough.

No, she'd got herself into this situation, and she had to get herself out.

One problem.

There was no way out.

It wasn't until her nineteenth birthday that she started drinking again. Mainly because everyone forgot it. She couldn't really blame them. Tidus had been gone for the past three and a bit years, so he couldn't be expected to know when Rikku's birthday was. Her father was busy, as the reopening of Home coincided with her birthday, so that meant Brother, Buddy, Shinra and Gippal were off the list. As was pretty much everyone else she knew, since they were all invited to the ceremony. Added to which, Tidus had chosen that day to propose to Yuna. Turned out when he'd disappeared in Luca it had been to go buy the ring. So yay for the High Summoner. Rikku tried to be angry that people had forgotten it. That lasted until about nine in the morning. Then she tried to be upset. That lasted until eleven in the morning. Next it was happy for Yuna. That lasted longer than the others – she remained happy until about four in the afternoon with that one. Then it left her again. All emotions were transient to her now.

By the time six pm rolled around, she was numb, as was normal now. It was her birthday, no-one knew, her cousin was engaged and going to be married, while the love of her life was marrying someone else. All good reasons to get drunk in Rikku's eyes. But hey, new Home meant new bars for her to go drink in. Midnight was officially when all the fireworks and stuff would start, and light up Bikanel like it hadn't been illuminated since Sin was vanquished. Cid was of course holding his own private party that started at eight, invitation only. Family, the Legendary Guardians of course. Rikku wasn't going. Legendary Guardians included the most legendary one of all of them. With fiancée in tow. Rikku didn't think – knew – she didn't have the strength to face Giia. So she was going to a bar.

As was normal in an Al Bhed society, the more upscale bars and clubs were in the centre, and the closer to the desert you went, the seedier and the quieter things got. Even in a brand new city, there were still places where a young, attractive woman wouldn't want to be found alone. However, being probably the strongest Al Bhed woman in Home, Rikku wasn't worried. She just wanted to find a bar where the alcohol was cheap and she could remove all memory of the fact that it was her birthday. She eventually found one – a place that looked and smelled twenty years old, and took a seat at the bar. "Sake please." She drew out a fifty Gil note. "And you can leave the bottle."

She knew there was no danger of anyone finding her out here, so she took and sipped at her sake slowly. She was only on her twentieth cup when the doors opened again, about four hours later. She'd forgotten how good sake tasted, how wonderful that delicious little burn down her throat was. She knew that if she stood up she'd get that euphoric floating feeling, but she wasn't quite ready to trust her legs just yet. The only thing that altered her to the fact that the door was open was the warm breeze that skittered around her bare legs. She didn't look around as heavy, slow footsteps crossed the floor. If she'd been just a little less drunk then she probably would have recognised them.

"Happy Birthday, Rikku."

It was a mark of how numb she was that she didn't even care that he was here. It didn't seem real. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Auron sat on a barstool next to her and took the sake cup from her fingers, poured himself a drink and drained it in one. "Why aren't you with Yuna?"

She snorted. "Why aren't you with Giia?"

"She's not here."

"Huh. Guess she didn't want to face a city full of people who'd kick her ass first chance they got."

Auron sent her a sideways glare that was still enough to make her cringe inwardly. "Rikku, that's my fiancée you're talking about."

Rikku refused to feel guilty. Giia was the worst kind of person. Given a choice between Giia and Seymour, she'd go Guado any day. Not that she could tell Auron that. "I know. Yuna told me," she said shortly.

They sat in silence for a while before he spoke again. "So you chose to come get drunk alone, on your birthday?"

"Yep. More fun that way."

"Why?"

"No-one remembered. Not even my father knows it's my birthday today." She drank another cup in her self pity. "How'd you know I'd be here?"

"When you weren't at the party I knew you'd be in a bar somewhere. It was just a matter of finding which bar."

"I seem to remember…spending my sixteenth birthday with you as well."

"Yes."

"Persuading you to let me customise your weapon."

"Yes."

"And you let me. Because it was my birthday."

"Yes."

She tried for a smile. "Nothing left for me to do now, is there?" It came out more bitter than she'd meant it to.

"Of course there is."

"Really? What? Is Spira in danger? Are there any fiends left that it'll be a challenge to defeat?"

"You could always help here. Your father will need an heir to run this place once he retires."

"Yeah, I can really see myself in politics."

He gave that short, sardonic laugh. "Not politics then."

"Maybe I should try resurrecting Sin. Give me something to do then at least." She sighed, then felt stupid and foolish for even suggesting it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

"I know."

"I should go."

"Where?"

"Away. Anywhere." She tried to get up, but her unsteady legs and the grip on her arm stopped her from standing.

"You'll probably wander into the desert," he pointed out.

"I grew up on this island!" she protested. "I know my vilgehk way around."

"Not drunk you don't. Sit down," he said, his tone brooking no argument.

"You're not the boss of me!"

"Rikku."

She sighed and slumped back down in her seat. "Fine." Another pause. "Auron?"

"Yes?"

"Give me your wrist for a sec."

He raised an eyebrow, but gave her his arm. She put two fingers to his wrist, immediately finding the strong pulse. "Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing," she said. Then she paused. "Don't take this the wrong way, but…why'd the fayth send you back?"

"That's something you'd have to ask them."

"You don't even have an…" A pause while she tried to get her alcohol-addled brain to think of the right word. "…inkling as to why?"

"When I asked Bahamut, he just said 'you'll see'."

Rikku snorted again. "Fucking fayth. Think they're soooo much higher than we are."

"They are," he pointed out.

"Not the point," she said emphatically, poking his arm with each word. "The point is you must have some idea."

"Well…I met Giia that night, so that's something."

It was a few seconds before Rikku worked out what he meant. Then she burst out laughing. She couldn't help it. The idea of the fayth sending Auron back so he could meet Giia was utterly ridiculous. "You think they sent you back for Giia?! Oh my gods that's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard!" All her laughing overbalanced her, and she ended up on her ass, still laughing uncontrollably. "You're so stupid sometimes, Auron!"

Clenching his teeth, and reminding himself that she was very, very drunk, Auron grabbed hold of one forearm and hauled her to her feet. "And you are drunk."

She stood, shaking him off her and tossing her blonde hair back, her face now as serious as he'd ever seen it. "Yes. But still sober enough to know that you're a good man. One of the best. And the best aren't destined to be with people like Giia."

She turned to stumble from the bar. "Rikku!" His voice held anger now – and he was angry, it was coming off him like toxic smoke.

She stopped, but didn't turn around. "I hope you don't mind, Auron, but I'm fairly certain I hate Giia. I wouldn't bother asking me to be a bridesmaid," she added with another bitter smile, glad that he couldn't see her tears. She was gone surprisingly quickly, in an almost straight line.

A/N: We're getting closer to the crescendo now! And your answers, but not quite yet. Review please!