I do not own Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 10

Chapter 19


Rikku and the Moonflow 2

Everyone's eyes widening, Auron tilts Rikku's chin and sees that which she is making an effort to hide. "Do you really want this?"

"I want to be Yunie's guardian more then anything." The blonde girl said simply. But yet with desperation of someone who wishes only to protect. Cloud looking at her next, he swings his sword next and smiles as before he could even get it close, the small girl has him blocked with a single hand bladed glove that appears on her wrist.

"A small blades specialist..." Cloud mused as Vincent approached. The blonde girl listening perks as she nods her head brightly.

"You better believe it buster!" Rikku stated happily. "And I can also fix, make, and adjust anything and make things go boom, with the proper materials of course. I can't change anything unless I have the stuff to change it with!"

The black haired man studying the fair haired girl both could not help but remember a bubbly friend who was much the same but with a giant shuriken that she always had on her back.

"Show me." Vincent replied. Tossing her some electric materials and some grenades, Rikku immediately brightens happily as she takes them both greedily. Starting to hum a tune, she does a little dance as her hands mold, mix, and shape.

"Hum de hum... A little bit of this. Throw in some of that. Oooohhh and let's not forget some of that!"

Finishing up twenty minutes later, Vincent and Cloud both saw what could only be a flash bomb in her hands as well as several grenades that seemed to be crackling with intense energy. Two different items from identical materials....

Both men were indeed impressed as Rikku spoke up brightly.

"You gave me to much electric stuff, so I figured other them make two shock grenades, which will also release a Thunderara Spell. I think...maybe a Thundaga? Well anyhow it will make a nice big boom as it does so. The flash bomb was made with the left over stuff. Never know when they come in handy and you need to get away."

Taking one of the grenades, Vincent looks to the blonde teenager who looks at him curiously. "May I?"

"Sure."

Throwing the shock grenade, Vincent, Cloud, and Auron were impressed as a large explosion occurred mingled with a large electrical charge.

"Hn...she comes. She will be useful." Auron stated simply as he starts resuming his walk towards Guadosalam.

"YIPPEE!"

The others letting out a light chuckle, as the blonde girl tackles Auron to the ground with a big hug, began to move on towards their next destination. The new girl's brightness infecting the others already on their journey, already teasing Tidus mercilessly as Yuna giggles. Rikku was helping to make people smile as she talked about her brother and her dad with irritation.

And yet a fondness that could not be missed...

Lulu taking the time to approach them as now Rikku gets into it with Wakka over blitzball; the black mage speaks softly as to not be heard.

"Rikku is an Al Bhed."

"Saw that when I looked into her features, she has their swirling eyes."

"Indeed." The dark haired woman stated quietly. "What you don't know is that Rikku is Yuna's cousin. Lord Braska was married to Rikku's aunt, making Yuna..."

"Half Al Bhed." Cloud finished soundly. "I take it we are not mention it around Wakka?" The oldest of the blondes stated simply. "I have noticed at the mention of them and of machina he does not take to it well."

Nodding her head the dark haired woman responded with a gentle plea. "Please...it is Yuna's...and mine request, do not tell him."

Startled at the fact that the Black Mage who normally asks nothing of anyone else was now doing so, she smiled softly as she explained with painful regret.

"When Sin, first came back not to long ago. The crusaders had been looking for people to aide in the fight against them. Chappu...Wakka's brother joined them. Not because he did not believe in Yevon, but because, he wanted to help protect Yevon. Wakka did not like that...but he let his brother go. The day Chappu was to leave, he was running late to the boat and he did not take the sword Wakka had given him to use, in favor of an Al Bhed Machina weapon."

Her words going to soft at that moment, Vincent placed his had upon her shoulder softly in understanding. "He did not make it did he."

"It was Sin...Sin attacked the boat while it was out at sea. Everyone...died." Lulu whispered quietly. "Wakka...Wakka has never forgiven the Al Bhed or himself for what happened to Chappu."

"Understood" Cloud replied in understanding. His own memories, of a time where he had experienced losses of that magnitude like that stepped forward. The loss of the woman whom had been his first love...Aerith.

It had taken Tifa...Tifa and the kids to bring him out. To help him to move on with his life in general, after the funk he had entered as he blamed himself and he blamed Shinra for everything that had led up to her death.

"Dilly dally Shilly Shally..."

Confusion at his words, Lulu and the others are perplexed as Cloud says the words that mean so much to him. But to Vincent, who alone, is one who also holds the memory of two young women whom had played a huge influence in his friend's life.

"You remember then...the time you defeated the Dark Bahamut that Kadaj had summoned." The gunman said quietly.

"Yes..." The former SOLDIER smiled. "Without, you, Tifa, and the others I couldn't have done it."

Nodding his head as he does not argue his words, the fact that Lulu heard him speak of defeating a summons was incredible.

"You defeated an Aeon?"

"Hn...yes... Someone who wanted something from me turned Bahamut into a mindless killing machine long ago. If not for Vincent and the others helping me, I would not have been able to cut through his Mega Flare attack and reach him to send him back."

Shock as she heard his words, Lulu looked to the dark man for confirmation. Vincent, nodding his head, the woman just looks at Cloud with a mixture of wariness and respect.

"Just how strong are you?"

Cloud thoughtful and quiet, the blonde man turned to the dark haired woman silently. "Strong enough to take on any of the Aeons one on one and win..." The blonde said quietly. "And it isn't by choice...."

The look on her face is one of puzzlement; it is Yuna and Tidus who approach. Rikku, who was new to the group looking equally confused as are some of the others. They can help but overhear as Yuna asks a question.

"Is it because of that time?"

"Yes..." Cloud said simply. "It...It is a long story. Perhaps when we stop in Guadosalam I will tell you of it. Til then..."

Nodding her head in acceptance, the others save for Auron and Vincent was puzzled at what two of their younger members including Yuna knew. Both the gunman and the former monk looking at one another, the two knew that the past was going to come out fully sooner or later.

Cloud and Vincent's past was of the three of them, the safest ones for people to know about at this moment. Despite the incredulity of what it was that they had, it was better then to shatter the illusion of what Auron had shared with them.

That their truth was a lie...

Unaware of that being who rushed ahead of them, the Guado spy knew that he needed to tell Maester Seymour of the closeness of the Lady Yuna and her guardians, including the new one who was supposedly a cousin via High Summoner Braska's wife.

But what his Lord would also like to know and would wish to do some research into, would be the fact what little of the man in black's past he had heard. It merited listening into as thoughts of this man's power had been consuming his boss as of late.

He as well as the others trailing the Lady Yuna and her people, were told to find out all they could about the pasts of each one of her guardians. They knew already that the Black Mage Lulu and the Blitzball Player Wakka would be easy to convince due to their loyalty to Yevon all ready.

The Ronso would be tougher, as he looked at the Lady Yuna as his child.

The younger blonde male was a puzzling issue to say the least. By all accounts that they had overheard, Tidus was the son of the guardian Jecht. To harm him and have that come out was not good...they would have to find something to use against him. Once done they would have an advantage...

But it was the remaining three and this new girl who could prove problematic. The girl easiest of the four as the Guado sensed she was simply an Al Bhed. The three men among them Sir Auron were different to say the least.

Once one of the clearly devoted the fact that Auron had not rejoined spoke volumes to many in Yevon. The man had changed...

But it was the other two that no one knew anything about. The blonde in Black Cloud...and the man in red...Vincent...

In the heart of Guadosalam and the Farplane...they would find it out. And that is a promise...

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

Next is Guadosalam and the Farplane...

That bit may take a while.... I think. I know how I want to go with it, but even in notes it is proving to be troublesome...ahh well I hope you all will be patient.