Auron and Rikku confront their feelings in a big way and a choice is made - another FFX2 character makes their entrance.

Other than a massive amount of editing for grammar/sentence clarity and a few new sentences added here and there this chapter remains mostly untouched. The title of this chapter has been changed completely. Also I'm finally done with the sequel so updates will mostly come in pairs now \o/

- One thing I didn't say at the start of this fic that I should have - is that this fic is NOT A FIX-IT. It's a WHAT IF which I think can imply very different tones. While things change and different people come out alive at the end of the final battle, the ending of the story is still very in line with the themes of Final Fantasy X. Please expect MAJOR CHARACTER DEATHS. -

Thank you for the follows/reviews (y'all are the best).

italics = denotes thought or memory

Not Mine

All or Nothing

Auron stood on the deck of the ship, eye looking forward and past the sky to the horizon. He knew he had been in existence far too long for someone who was dead. It was tiring. From what he had observed, he wasn't the only one who was at the end of their rope. He knew that everyone had seen what was happening to Yuna, even though she thought she was being good at hiding it. She was slowly corroding inside. Even with Tidus there to comfort her, her soul was losing the will to fight. All the child had wanted was peace, and now with the illusions of that shattered she was straining to find reason to keep going.

Behind him he heard someone clear her voice and he recognized it easily - it had to be her. He turned and found the green eyes of Rikku staring into his. And that was another problem, he cared for her deeply, had made it known to her. But he had to go, he didn't belong here. He couldn't stay. She took his hand and leaned on him. Her hand felt so small compared to his, as if it wasn't even there. But despite it's size he knew that it was there - they shared the same hands, workers hards. Rough with callouses from holding swords and metal work. She looked up at him, "Worried?"

He peered down at her, from above his collar and saw that he wasn't the only one who was worrying, who had fears. And he was comforted by that. He tried to smile a little bit, and knew he was failing when Rikku giggled a bit - trying to mask her fears behind a energetic stride and smile. Seeing her struggle, Auron knew that honesty was the best policy, "I have something to show you, come with me." he told her.

Rikku masked her confusion and followed Auron as he left the outside of the ship, and traveled down to the airship's bustling control room. Auron walked over Cid who was sitting at the controls and smiled at him. Cid acknowledged him back and Auron spoke, "I want to take Rikku to the Farplane."

It took a while but when what Auron had said hit her, Rikku's eyes lost their mask of joy and fear started to creep into her expression. She clearly remembered what had happened the last time they had been to the Farplane. She had been the only one who had seen Auron's bent form when Jyscal had tried to escape - and his cries of pain. She didn't want to see him like that again, "What about what happened last time? When you…"

A quick look and stern eyes was all it took for Auron to silence her. Rikku didn't know why he was being so grumpy, she pouted and he sighed, "Trust me." he beseeched of her.

Gritting her teeth she tried to think of a way to stop him, she was now fully worried for him, "What about Yuna and Lulu? They haven't come back yet, and the Guados? Don't they hate us?" perhaps logic would work.

Reaching out to where Rikku stood Auron pulled her into a warm embrace, shocking both Rikku and her father, who, for the life of him hadn't seen this coming. Cid stood there speechless for a moment while Auron spoke softly to Rikku, in a voice that no one had heard the man ever use, "You need to see this. If you're worried about Guados go up and get Paine. I'm sure she will know what I'm going to show you once you explain it to her, so what I happens won't come as a shock."

Because she hadn't been there during what had happened with Paine and Yuna, Rikku wondered why Paine would give them any protection. But she nodded and scampered off to find the mysterious woman and then Auron turned to Cid who was giving him his best stern look, "You better keep her safe. Anything happens to her I will never forgive you. She has already been through enough." Cid told him.

For a second as Auron took this in his eyes darkened, and then they returned to normal, "I know, and nothing will happen to her, in this dark time that's the only promise I can keep." he explained to Rikku's father.

"You're telling the truth. I can tell that, well okay, good." Cid said.

Rikku returned with Paine following behind her and nodded, "Okay, lets go."

Cid hit the controls and the ship blasted forward towards the city of Guadosalam. They reached it in what seemed like record time and all three occupants disembarked from the airship and entered the city.

What Rikku found inside Guadosalam's cave like city shocked her - the city was empty. It was as if someone or something had come in and taken all the Guado away. She felt the quiet surround her and clung to Auron, who knowing the girl, let her. Paine seemed to not be taken in by the cold and Rikku wondered just how she did it. Paine's favoring clothing with bare arms over long sleeves. Clutching onto Auron's arm harder they walked up to the entrance and stepped into the long hallway, Auron looked down at Rikku, "Last time we were here you didn't want to go inside, are you sure of this?" he asked.

"Oh, so now I have the choice? After I clearly didn't want to come? You're ehcyha!" Rikku was flabbergasted.

Chuckling to himself Auron spoke, "Crazy or not, you could have brought that up inside the airship, but you didn't. I am bringing it up now."

Glaring at him Rikku puffed out her chest and looked him dead in the eyes, "I'm going." She strode in front of him attempting to show courage, "You coming?"

Auron followed her, Paine not far behind them. Once they reached the bridge to the Farplane Auron could hear it call to him, calling on what little humanity that he had left inside himself he clung to it and attempted to cover himself with it as armor. Paine looked at him, "It's hard isn't it? Having something inside you? That rips and tears? I envy them - Lulu and Rikku, they might have fears, but to have something inside them that wants to kill and destroy? It's not in their nature." she said.

They reached the shimmering portal and anchoring himself further Auron took Rikku's hand, "Whatever happens, I want you to protect yourself first, me latter." he imposed upon her.

"You? What do you…" Her sentence was cut short as her words were swallowed up by them entering the portal.

Inside the pathway to the dead Rikku felt Auron's hand disappear from hers. Her hand falling into thin air as if he had never been there. She turned to ask him what was happening, and what she saw terrified her. Ghosts surrounded Auron and he had turned translucent, his skin deathly pale. His figure shimmered and the pathway disappeared, slowly turning into flat land. As Auron's figure solidified once more the Farplane opened up to her until they were standing on a platform surrounded by rocks. This was the border between worlds. Yet this could not hold her attention, instead Rikku held her hand up to her mouth in aw. It was as if Auron had gone through a time portal, the Auron she was staring at was years younger than the one who she had journeyed here with, "What… what happened?" she asked.

Part of her watched in an odd fascination as pyreflies swirled around his body he looked at her, "I am unsent, not of this world. I had to show you, had to let you know."

She didn't want to know the answer but asked any way, "Why?"

"Because, when this is over. If it ever is over, I have yet to chose whether I'm going to stay." he told her honestly.

There was dead silence and Rikku felt the world collapse around her. The air in the Farplane rippled and she felt her body sway in shock a little, not knowing what to say. Mere seconds later a piercing scream ripped through the air and Paine turned to look at the place where the sound was coming from and saw to her amazement - a large group of Sin spawn in the sky. This should not be a place where they were allowed to cross into and yet here they were. The group of them came crashing down and she twisted her body away as they landed close to where she had been standing, "Damn it."

Still swaying Rikku attempted to find herself, "What?"

"His power is growing."

Rikku fought off her body's shock, not even looking at Auron who had already shouldered his sword, in battle stance. Auron looked at Paine, "What do you suggest we do?" he asked.

Slightly taken aback by Auron asking someone for advice she watched as Paine ginned, "We fight. As his power rises, so does mine."

Unsure of what she meant Rikku looked at her, "What?"

"I am a sinspawn. With a human shell." Paine pulled out her sword and just like when Yuna had been in trouble the sword flashed and her eyes changed their color. When it cleared she smirked, "Don't be afraid."

Rikku wanted to be afraid, she really did - however the sinspawn were closing in on them. And there was no time for fear. Instead acceptance was easier. She nodded and pulled out her two custom daggers. She hit two of the ghost like sinspawn and landed two precise hits. The ghosts like creatures then retaliated by turning around and landing two quick hits on her.

Behind her Paine was glowing and her sword was encased in flame. She hit one of the spawns and it turned into ash. The next spawn also suffered the same fate. And so in that fashion she continued to cut through the many spawns that came at her. Rikku sighed, despite coming from a background tinged in red Paine was so cool. She healed herself and then spun to avoid spawn attacks - finding herself back to back with Auron, his sword was out and she glared at him, "So when are you leaving?" she tried not to sound bitter and failed.

"I'm not." he told her.

Rikku rolled her eyes, "Not now no, but what about latter? What about then? When were you planning to tell us? Me?" She was angry and he could tell.

Thoughts passed through his mind, all sorts of excuses - but he answered honestly, "When Yuna's journey was over. I just didn't think I was going to fall in love with anyone."

He blocked one of the ghosts and sent it over to Rikku who stabbed at it turning it into pyreflies. She changed dresspheres the thief garment requiring too much up close combat, and into her Black Mage garment. Then she set two of the ghost on fire and watched them burn. Next to her Auron killed the last spawn. She turned to him - what he said finally dawning on her, "You… you love me?"

It took Auron a while to realize just what he had said to her, and her demand for answers had left him slightly akilter. He liked her, he knew that much. Enough to put his life on the line, but to admit that he loved her, to truly acknowledge it would mean no going back, no true death. He couldn't leave her like that if he gave her this. He would have to protect her until her last undying breath. Could he really do that? The answer came to him faster and easier than he thought it would, "Yes."

Paine walked up to him and smiled slyly. And then at Rikku, "There's no going back after that. The Farplane takes humans that love but not ghost that have found love once more. You'll be stuck on this plane until she dies if you do this." she warned.

Eyes darting between both Paine and Auron Rikku realized the implications of that. It was another rule among many that those who entered the Farplane had to endure. And the reason Yuna danced and would always dance. So the envious dead would calm and forget who they were, forget for enough time that the Farplane would take them, "What happens if he falls in battle then?"

Paine looked at Rikku eyes saddened as she gave her answer, "He will became a fiend. And wander the world angry at all those who took his love from him."

"It's a risk I will have to take. For you." He turned to the exit of the Farplane, "And one I will gladly take. Are you coming?"

Footsteps behind him told him that Rikku and Paine were following him out. Once again inside the exit Rikku watched as Auron seemed to age before her very eyes - as his body disappeared and was assaulted by those who wanted his soul. This time when the ghosts came near him they seemed to sense that a change had come over him and scurried off as soon as they got close enough. As they exited Rikku kept her eyes to the ground ashamed of what she had asked Auron to do. So when she hit a solid figure who was about to enter the Farplane she was startled by his body. Both parties fell down and the man's cane went flying to the ground.

Rikku looked upward from her position on the ground and assessed the damage. Behind her Paine and Auron materialized and Auron ran to help Rikku up. Paine on the other hand seemed stock still and rooted in place. The man glance up at her and shock seemed to also register on his features. Rikku looked around for his cane, found it and handed it to him. He didn't seem to see it and she had to poke him, "Sir? Your cane?"

He looked up and finally registered her, "Sorry. Thank you, and your name is?"

"Rikku. And yours?"

He was about to answer but Paine beat him to it, "His name is Nooj. He took care of me once the fayth could no longer. At the time he had been running an undercover operation against the government. When they were caught I ran, knowing that I couldn't be caught or my mission forfeit." she paused "I thought you were dead."

Leaning on his cane Nooj's face was set in a grim line, "I was caught. Everyone who was fighting with us was killed but I remained. Then they took my arm," at this pointed to his arm which Rikku saw and looked at in an odd sense of aw the machina work for it was very good, "And my leg, and destroyed them. This I'm guessing they thought would be lesson enough. After that I sought out the Al Bhed and they replaced them." he finished his story.

At this Auron spoke up, and directed his words to Paine, "So that's why you joined us without complaint, you were continuing his work."

To Paine this seemed like an apt question but it was also wrong, "For someone so wise you make a lot of wrong statements sometimes," he knew she was referring to his choice to be with Rikku, "I choose to be with you because I am against Sin and all he stands for. No more no less. I was trained to kill Sin. Nooj and I had similar goals once but that is all, don't twist my words."

Rikku looked at Nooj trying to see whether he had know about this, his complete lack of shock told her that he did. At this an idea popped into Rikku's head, "Why don't you come with us?" she inquired.

Laughter filled the air and Rikku wanted to know what she had done wrong. She seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, "If I joined you, in the end I would only end up protecting what I'm against." he told them.

Not really understanding Rikku spoke, "What do you mean?"

"You are working to protect the government, save it from the corruption that it has now. But after? After it will go back to the way it was, and I once again will be back at square one."

At this Rikku had to laugh, "Don't you get it? If you help us, you'd be a hero! And heroes get positions in government, and people in government can change what happens. So my father says any way."

This was getting nowhere, Paine had to sigh and look Nooj in the eyes, she didn't want him aboard, because she knew that having him with them was going to be like having a walking talking time bomb aboard the ship. And his stern demeanor was too reminiscent of Auron. But she knew that Rikku liked people like Auron, for some reason or another. Even if they were not her cup of tea. Looking at Nooj she spoke, "She's going to persist. And since were both being hunted by Baralai I don't see why not."

Dead serious eyes answered her, "I'm working on a project right now, one that could possibly destroy Sin for good."

A thwack on the back from Rikku made him glare at the girl, but when she smiled good naturedly at him he softened slightly. Rikku seemed to be good at that, making hardened men soften, "Come on, doesn't that put us on the same side? And anyway, you look starved and the ship is full of great food."

It was that comment that put Auron's mind at ease over something that he hadn't know he was worried about - he had been afraid that Rikku was going to be mad at him for a while and angry at herself. However this confirmed to him that she was back to normal. Nooj however didn't understand that this was just her way, "Food? I'm not a glutton."

"Come on, I was just joking, for such a dark age I think we need a little humor. So whatdaya say? Come on, please, please?" Rikku badgered him.

He looked at Paine for support and found none, and knew that he had been backed into a corner. At this point Rikku was desperate and thinking of pulling out the puppy eyes that worked so well on Auron and would no doubt work on this guy when he answered, "Fine I'll come."

Rikku was about to leap on him to give him a hug, when Auron pulled her back and held her closer to him. She looked up at him and was about to complain when to the surprise of the company and to Rikku - he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She leaned back into his arms and smiled up at him. Allowing themselves a small amount of time to enjoy being together they stood like that until they had to untangle. Taking Auron's hand the two of them walked outside flanked by Nooj and Lulu, leaving the empty Guadosalam behind them. They exited the barren city and Rikku opened the com for the ship, "Hey pops, we're waiting."

Cid's voice answered hers, "So are we. Lulu and Yuna have already come back, what took you?"

Smiling to herself Rikku looked at Nooj, "We picked up company!"

The answer she received was not one she had been expecting, "Guess what, so did we!" Cid said excitedly.

A voice came over the speaker, "Hey sis! Guess who's back in town!"

At the sound of the voice Paine's face paled.

Translation Note: ehcyha means insane in Al Bhed.

A/N: That's not Brother on the other end, and sis is not a nickname. The person on the other end is really Rikku's other brother. This is another AU change made because it was something I had always assumed (wrongly) and then decided to work into the story.