46: Ghosts of the Past

Rikku opened her eyes to the sunlit deck of the airship. Sitting up, she looked around and sighed. "Not this again. Who is it this time? Yuna? Paine? Brother?"

"Oh, hey! Rikku! There you are." She jerked around. Tidus grinned, one hand raised in a familiar wave. "How's it going?"

She blinked. Then she pinched herself.

"That doesn't work in a dream, you know." He settled by her, still smiling. "Not unless you can make your body pinch yourself in the real world, too. Although, I dunno… muscle memory is a weird thing. Whenever I dream about having to go to the bathroom, I usually wake up – "

"Okay! I get it!" she said hastily. "You sure sound just like Tidus. What mysterious piece of advice do you have for me? I've already dreamt about Braska and Yuna, and Auron and Paine. So when do you turn into Jecht?" She examined him with suspicion. "You're not hiding a blitzball anywhere, are you? I'm not getting smashed out of this dream by the Mark III if I can help it."

"You want me to look like my old man? Wait – you dreamt that Paine and Auron were the same person? Your subconscious sure is freaky." Tidus made a face. "And hey! Give me a little credit! I'd use the Mark II."

She socked him in the arm. "I miss you guys."

His grin faded. "Yeah, we know. Yuna's worried about you. Even Gippal wants to know where you went. He set up a temporary base in Guadosalam; they're using Leblanc's mansion. You know, Seymour's old place." Tidus grimaced. "Gives me the creeps."

"Gippal using Seymour's house or Gippal shacking up with Leblanc?" she asked, smirking.

"Both." He frowned. "Listen. People are getting really worried. Brother's handling it the worst. His baby sister's disappeared, his other brother died, and he's never gotten along with your pops to begin with, so. You need to finish up and come back home soon. Family's important."

"You would know, huh?"

Tidus glared. "Don't give me a hard time about this! It's already bad enough picturing you kissing Auron. He's my foster dad, you know!"

Rikku pursed her lips and tapped them. "I never thought of it that way. So… does that make me sorta like your mom now?" She cackled at the look that passed over Tidus' face. "Nightmares for decades, right? My work here is done!"

"No, I don't think it is yet."

There was a tone of solemnity to his words that brought her up short. "What – "

"Look, I gotta go soon, but… take care of my old man, will you?" Tidus laughed. "It kinda makes me mad, knowing you're getting along better with him than I ever did. But I guess everything Jecht does makes me mad."

The field of flowers surrounding the airship began to grow fuzzy. "Tidus?" she asked uncertainly. "...Am I dreaming right now?"

Tidus gave her a wistful smile. "See you around, Rikku."

.x.x.x.

Rikku shot up in bed, blinking. What was that?

" 'Bout time you woke up!"

Turning, she stared at Jecht with wide eyes.

"You were sleepin' like the dead! Broke Auron's record for lie-ins." Jecht tilted his head when she didn't respond. "You feelin' okay? Your motor mouth don't usually run outta gas."

"Shut up, Jecht," she replied, without any of her usual fire.

His expression slanted into worry. "Okay, I'm callin' Braska. Auron wasn't supposed to actually screw your brains out."

That shook Rikku from her confusion. "I'm fine!" She threw a pillow at Jecht; he grunted when it smacked him in the face. "Why're you waking me up now anyway?"

"Braska's gettin' ready to enter the Cloister soon. You gotta Guardian up or you're gonna miss it." He crossed his arms. "Seriously, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Somehow, she managed a smile. "I think… maybe I did." Then she noticed where Jecht was really looking. This time it was a brightly-colored pot that smashed into his face. "OUT! OUT!"

"OWW! Fine, will ya just – OWW!" Jecht scurried out of the hut, ducking a few more of the projectiles she sent after him. "It ain't my fault you sleep in the buff now! Gimmie a break!"

Grumbling about idiots whose names started with 'Je' and ended with 'cht,' she scrambled out of the bed. Donning her clothes and garment grid in record time, she quickly rucked her tangle of hair into its usual ponytail and slipped on her boots. Eying the broken shards of pottery littering the floor, she sighed and swept up the mess with her foot.

What is it with everyone wanting to comment on Auron and me? Why is it so hard to leave us alone?

After depositing the trash outside with a silent apology to the owners, she quickly made her way through the tiny village, trying to ignore any detours down memory lane. Her feet slowed as she passed the place where Yuna and Tidus' hut would stand in the future, eying the mostly-barren patch of land. Shaking her head, she hurried past it and continued on her way.

It was quiet; Besaid was a community of fishers and weavers, usually up on their feet early in the morning. There was little activity in the village at that moment, though, and the silence allowed her mind to drift towards her dream.

Had it really been Tidus? Was there any actual way to check? He hadn't dissolved into mist or morphed into a figure from the past, unlike all of her other dreams – as if those weren't weird enough too. This one, however, left her feeling even more lost than the others.

What if it wasn't just a dream?

It was something to deal with later, though; she'd arrived at the temple and Braska was waiting, standing by one of the pillars flanking the entrance. Jecht was sprawled next to him, soaking up the early sunlight. Even Auron looked unusually relaxed, arms crossed as he leaned against the weathered stone.

"Ah, good morning," Braska greeted her. "Should I ask about what happened to Jecht's face?"

"He woke me up," she said, directing a glare at Auron. "Wasn't that supposed to be your job?"

Auron raised an eyebrow. "You can be insufferable in the mornings. All the more reason for me not to volunteer to wake you."

She scowled.

He shifted, then glanced away. "Although, I did try. You were exhausted."

"Well, no wonder," Jecht began, "Since ya spent all night – "

Auron raised his fist.

"Nothin'. I didn't say nothin' 'bout the most violent couple in Spira," Jecht finished.

"Yes, well." Braska cleared his throat and led them inside. "The Trials await us, so let us proceed before any more violence is provoked." His muttered, "I should charge for my services," echoed between the arched stone columns.

Rikku hesitated as she entered, surprised. "This place is pretty... atmospheric?"

Jecht snorted, the sound bouncing through the room. "You mean empty. Where the hell are all the statues?"

The temple's interior looked nothing like she remembered it; there were fewer summoners' statues present than there were huts in the village. The only three she recognized were High Summoners Gandof, Ohalland, and Yocun; the remaining statues were either broken or weathered beyond repair.

How had the village managed to restore its Temple in the future? Although, its current destitution could've explained why it took Besaid almost ten years after Braska's Calm to finally receive his High Summoner's statue.

Braska sighed. "While I could attempt to draw some meaningful parallel from this austerity, I'm afraid the truth is much simpler."

Auron strode towards the entrance to the Cloister. His boots echoed across the stone floor. "Money. Besaid has none, and this temple never recovered from Sin's attack three years ago."

Someone cleared their throat; a young nun emerged from one of the storage rooms and smiled. "Well! This is unexpected! I thought everyone would be in Luca for the tournament!" She bowed. "Are you a summoner's party by chance?"

Braska returned her bow. "Indeed. I am Summoner Braska of Bevelle. I have come to commune with your Fayth."

"And I am Sister Ginnem," the woman said, visibly pleased. "On behalf of Besaid, I welcome you to the Temple of Wind." She continued to stare at Braska, obviously star-struck.

"Thank you." He returned her broad smile with a bit of discomfort.

Jecht's eyebrows went up. "How the hell did Braska get a fan all the way out here before I did? Did they hear 'bout us already?"

Rikku shook her head. "She's a nun," she whispered back. "The Church's superstars aren't Blitzball players, remember? I doubt she's heard anything about you."

"Damn."

"...Yes, well," Braska said after the silence had stretched uncomfortably long. "I take it you'll have no objection if we enter the Cloister then?"

Ginnem flushed. "Oh, excuse me! I'm also training to become a summoner, and you're the first real one I've met."

"Ah," Braska said stiffly; it seemed he didn't approve of the woman's career choice. "Well then, I suppose I shall have to work that much harder to succeed before you do."

Ginnem's enthusiasm waned. "Perhaps. My younger sister was among those slain when Sin last attacked Besaid. I might give you a run for your money!"

Braska sighed. "I do not wish to overstep the bounds of your hospitality, Sister, but have you perhaps considered other, more productive, ways of serving Yevon?"

"My lord," Auron interjected. "The Teachings – "

Ginnem raised her hand. "Peace, friends. I'm not about to report you to the High Priest. Although, you shouldn't practice that speech so openly on other summoners outside of Besaid."

Jecht scratched his head and leaned close to Rikku. "What was that all about?"

"Yevon's Teachings. They encourage the clergy to become summoners. You know – the more you have floating around, the more chances one of them will take down Sin." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently, it's a sin to get a summoner to stray from the holy path."

"So, why's Braska tryin' to stop her?"

She crossed her arms and frowned. "It's complicated. Braska's just like that."

Jecht shrugged. "Didn't figure he'd wanna hog all the glory. Then again, didn't see him fallin' for you, either."

"Thanks, Jecht," she said, channeling as much of Auron's innate sarcasm as she could into her reply. She turned her attention back towards Braska's conversation.

"...Of course," he was saying, bowing to Ginnem. "I will be happy to share my experiences with you after I have prayed to the Fayth. If I can be of any other assistance, please ask." He beckoned them toward the Cloister entrance. "Shall we?"

Auron pushed the doors open, and they passed through the wide hallway together. Runic, mosaic-like script flashed across one wall, resolving into something that looked like a sundial.

"Before we begin," Auron said. "Please try to avoid destroying the temple this time. There's a Summoner-in-Training here." He paused. "You'll only make it easier for her."

"I know," Braska replied, studying the rune's shifting patterns. After a moment, he raised his hand; a wall slid open to reveal a set of stairs. Another rune awaited them at the base of the hidden steps, powered by a glowing sphere set into a socket.

There was only one other place in the small passage the newly-revealed sphere could fit; unasked, Jecht slotted it into the waiting door's recess with a look of boredom.

"Well, this seems a little too easy," Jecht observed, pushing the door open. He was already removing the sphere from its socket when Rikku passed. She raised an eyebrow at him. "I learn fast." He tossed the sphere in the air.

They continued down the linear hallway – it offered no surprises and even less decorative ornamentation than the other temples. When the next sphere socket was finally spotted, Jecht inserted the orb without prompting. The wall rumbled and rose into the ceiling, taking their sphere with it. "Hope we didn't need that," he said.

Auron peered into the tiny alcove the moving wall had revealed. "Even here, there's a destruction sphere. They must be recent additions to the Temples," he noted, pulling it out of the wall.

"How do you figure?" Rikku asked, confused. Sure, Seymour had placed them there himself to seal off his mom, but Auron wasn't supposed to know that. At least, not yet.

"This entire building must have been destroyed when Sin attacked. Everything here is too new. They were likely placed when it was rebuilt."

"And, of course, it wasn't just the temple that was hit," she said, thinking back to her run-in with Chappu. "I heard they lost most of their Blitzball team, too."

Maybe there was something to Braska's theory after all. If the village had been razed to the ground three years ago without a summoner present, it was almost a miracle that there were so few fiends to be found on the island.

Jecht continued down the tunnel. "Well, apart from them glowin' things across from that hole in the wall, it's a dead end," he called out. "Feels more like a vacation than a Trial." He punched at the glyphs, then snorted as they dissolved and revealed another not-so-well-hidden alcove with another light blue sphere. "An' this'll make our exit," he muttered, grabbing it and bringing it to the others.

"We should make a donation to this temple as well," Braska said to Auron, who looked weary, but unsurprised.

"At least our budget can finally keep up with your whims." He took the sphere from Jecht and shoved it into the wall, which rolled up to reveal the familiar round sigil for an elevator. Taking a speculative look at the destruction sphere in his hand, Auron held it up. "Everything we've found to date seems to have been useful so far. Who wants to try this?"

Rikku scratched her cheek. I've definitely noticed a 'Celestial Weapon' theme to the hidden treasures we've found so far. So maybe... "Isn't it Jecht's turn to go treasure hunting? Why don'tcha let him have it this time?"

"Really?" Jecht snatched the sphere out of Auron's hand. "Sure, man. Don't come cryin' to me when I collect the goods, though."

"Whether or not what you find is 'good' remains to be seen," Auron replied.

Smirking, Jecht ambled back towards the only free sphere slot left in the Cloister. "Doesn't matter. Treasure is treasure!" The wall lit up as Jecht slotted the sphere in; a line of sickly pink energy stuttered to life.

Something exploded further down the hallway.

"That sounded… rather destructive. Perhaps we should make a more substantial donation to the Church than we did in Kilika," Braska said as they made their way towards the rubble. "Though we may have caused less problems this time, the paucity of our surroundings makes this defacement all the more obvious."

"Hnn," Auron agreed, as they reached the new room and Jecht opened the chest.

He froze.

"What is it?" Auron asked.

"Get over here, Rikku," Jecht said, pulling the object out. "This what I think it is?"

Skipping over, she grabbed the symbol from Jecht and studied it. It was warm and made of a strange, blackened metal. The relief of a red trident rose from the surface; as her fingers passed over it, it flickered and glowed. "Yeah," she breathed, handing it back to Jecht. The symbol flared with ruby light. "It's the Neptune Crest! Congratulations… you found the other half of your weapon!"

Jecht stared at the crest. "You said these things... they choose you, right?" His fingers curled around the crest. "If that sword's really mine, that means I'm supposed to be here."

"As loathe as I am to admit it, you have been an exemplary Guardian for Braska so far," Auron said. "I had my doubts when we first started, but now, you deserve to be a part of this Pilgrimage just as much as any of us."

Braska nodded in silent agreement.

Jecht, however, didn't appear to be paying attention. His brows were furrowed, his mouth drawn into a soft frown as he stared at the symbol.

Rikku swallowed, realizing that both Auron and Braska didn't understand the true meaning behind Jecht's words. He wasn't questioning his role as a Guardian; he was wrestling with the idea that he'd been destined for Spira.

"Do I even got a choice?" He looked up at Rikku and she was struck by the uncomfortable realization that he was coming to her for reassurance. "Or am I still dancin' to someone else's tune, just like all them other mice in Zanarkand?"

A chill passed through her. Aeons… are always summoned by someone, for a purpose. Had Jecht's arrival really been an accident, or was Yu Yevon growing tired of living? "I don't know," she said. "But you still have your free will, right? You can choose what you want to do with yourself while you're here."

Jecht remained rooted to the spot, gaze moving back to the pulsing red crest in his hand. "Ya really think so?"

"Jecht?" Braska looked puzzled. "What are you talking about? Of course you have the option to choose. I have never meant to trap you into continuing on this Pilgrimage if that was not your wish."

Jecht grunted. "Sorry, but this one ain't about you, B." He ran his thumb over the crest. "It's 'bout me."

Rikku felt eyes boring into her head; gulping, she met Auron's questioning gaze. Clearly, he had no idea what she and Jecht were discussing, but he had witnessed part of Jecht's initial meltdown on the Mi'ihen Highroad. His eyes narrowed, but she shook her head once, quickly. Not now. Her eyes flitted over to Braska. Not in front of Braska.

Auron frowned, but touched Braska's arm. "Braska. Leave them. Let's find the Chamber of the Fayth." He looked at her. "Join us when you can."

She nodded, thankful he'd understood, and faced Jecht, waiting for the elevator to descend before speaking. "I thought you said you were gonna fight. Don't fall apart on us now!"

"Fight what?" Jecht growled. "Fight bein' someone else's dream? I don't got no control over my own damn life!" He sprang to his feet and paced the hall nervously. "I don't even know if I am alive! I ain't ridin' this storm, Blondie. I'm drownin' in it."

Tidus' words haunted her. "...Take care of my old man, will you?"

Steeling herself, she grabbed Jecht's arms. It was hard, considering his height, but she put her weight into it and shook him. "Snap out of it," she commanded. "You're not lost in this storm." She waited until his eyes were focused on her. "You are the storm."

He stared at her for a long moment.

Did I reach him?

"...You been hittin' the Ochu tentacles lately, Blondie? The hell you on about?"

It was surprisingly easier to shake Jecht around like a limp rag doll when she was angry. "No, you dork! I was trying to be inspirational!" She raised a hand threateningly. "I can be more direct if your head's too thick to get it!"

Snickering, Jecht shook her off. "Sorry. We were gettin' too serious there for a minute, but then you saved it by goin' over the top."

"What?" she sputtered.

"You should've seen your face!" Jecht guffawed. "You were actin' like somebody killed my pet chocobo or somethin'! Snapped me right outta my funk. See, I just don't like thinkin' bout serious things too much. It's no fun."

Balking, Rikku resisted the urge to choke him with his own bandana. "Of course thinking is hard, you undersized Ogre! But, it's still better than the alternative!"

"What, you mean actin' like all the rest of the people in Spira?" He sobered abruptly, and she couldn't help but wonder how much of his sudden cheer had been faked. "Sin ain't never really been defeated in a thousand years. Everybody keeps hopin' that doin' the same thing over and over again will work, but nobody ever got it right. You'd think by now everybody would've figured Yevon's Teachings were a load o' Dingoshit. We're gonna have to do things different if we wanna change this world, right?"

"Well, yeah," she replied uncertainly, dropping her hands. "Do you have some kind of plan?" A strong feeling of deja-vu struck her; for a minute, she saw Tidus looking back at her.

"Naw," he replied. "Least not yet. But I guess it's a good thing I ain't really alive then." He grinned, smaller than normal but still real. "Means I can't die tryin' somethin' new, right?"

Huh. Maybe my message wasn't completely lost after all. Still... "You gonna be okay?"

"Long as we stick together. You can't leave me hangin' here, right? You're the only one who knows what I am," Jecht said gruffly.

Was this how Tidus felt at first, too? Maybe it was worse for Jecht, with all his pride, to have to admit that he needed friends at all. "You know I wouldn't do that to you. Besides, I don't think we could get rid of you if we tried. You're pretty stubborn."

"...So you think I'm the storm, huh?" He punched his crest into the air. "Then I'm gonna bring it. That's my call."

Rikku matched his grin. "You sound like you're ready to go back to Macalania now and get yourself a Celestial Weapon."

"Yeah! We're gonna be Spira's best Celestial Warriors, you know it! Kickin' ass and takin' names!" he declared, high-fiving her. "I'm totally gonna rub Auron's face in it, too."

Yeah. He'll get past this.

"C'mon, let's see if Braska's got himself a new aeon yet." He scratched his head. "Is it a chick or a dude here? If it's a chick, is she hot?"

"You know, I was almost impressed." She headed for the elevator. "At least some things never change."

Chuckling, Jecht pocketed the crest and followed her.

When they both stood on the platform, it rumbled, then sent them deeper into the earth. The stones got older and more weathered the further they went; when the elevator bottomed out into the antechamber of the Fayth, it felt as though they'd stepped into a different temple. Delicate, whorling patterns decorated every wall, and the floors and ceiling were richly inscribed with feather-like symbols. The high, haunting trill of a soprano echoed around them, adding to the room's solemn atmosphere.

"Whoa," Jecht mumbled, his eyes wide. "Lookit this place!"

"You made it," Auron greeted from his position against one of the walls. "Did you work everything out?"

"I'm good to go. And once I power up my sword, I'm gonna wipe the floor with your ass. Payback for all those drills, man!"

"You say that as though you believe it might happen. Well, you're welcome to try." Auron smirked. "And fail."

Jecht raised both hands and flipped Auron the bird.

"Auron, stop baiting Jecht!" she scolded. "Getting access to a Celestial Weapon is a really big deal! Don't ruin his moment with reality, okay?"

Jecht repeated his salute to Rikku, before sticking his fingers into his ears and pointedly studying the ornate walls.

Auron chuckled. "Braska just entered the Chamber. We may be here for a while."

She put her arms behind her back and strolled around the beautiful room, eyeing the delicate carvings. Now this is more like I remember. "I guess this part of the temple wasn't touched by Sin's attack. Still, I'm kinda surprised it's so pretty. I mean, this place could put Bevelle to shame!"

Auron shrugged. "If Besaid truly was once the seat of Spira's summoners, imagine what this temple must have looked like before the Great Machina War." He shook his head. "You would hardly realize it by looking at the hovels above, though. Or the villagers, for that matter."

Finished with her cursory inspection of the small chamber, Rikku settled on the floor by his feet. "Don't knock it. You and Yuna might be adding to their population one day." She giggled at his disgruntled look, giving his calf a playful pinch.

"Hnn," Auron said, though his soft gaze belied his strict tone.

Relaxing against the wall, she idly traced one of the spiraling patterns on the floor. Auron should learn to like this place; he might have a future here, after all. Her finger stilled as the memory of her strange dream resurfaced.

If that was actually Tidus though, what does that mean for Auron? Does Auron never make it back to Besaid? Were my other dreams real, too?

A faint memory of pyreflies tickled; Auron, kneeling among flowers.

Come back soon, Tidus had said.

She shivered, trying to make a connection. What if going back home meant dying, like she almost did in Baaj? What did that even mean? Was she dead?

Rikku lifted her hand, inspecting her finger. The faint white scar where she'd first bitten herself to test the theory was still there. She frowned.

Was what Dream-Tidus said even true? Were her friends in the future worried about her? It would just be like Brother to panic; it was practically his normal state of existence. But Gippal? Rikku snorted. Hardly. As much as he liked to play the field, even he would've given Leblanc's grating personality a wide berth.

"Do you want to talk?" Auron's soft question startled her from her thoughts.

She glanced up, confused.

His brows were drawn together in faint concern. "You look as though you're worried about something," he said. "Is it this secret between you and Jecht?"

"No, that's something different. You'll have to pry it out of Jecht. It's not really my place to say anything." She twisted her fingers into her sash. "I just… I feel like my past is catching up with me the closer we get to the end of this Pilgrimage," she admitted. "I guess I'm a little scared."

He sighed and lowered himself to the ground beside her. "That's not unreasonable. We all have to face what's coming. Jecht is the lucky one," he added, gesturing to where Jecht was seated, cross-legged, fingers still in place. "Ignorance is bliss."

Jecht pulled his fingers out of his ears. "You ain't talkin' about me, are ya?"

"No." Auron leaned over and kissed Rikku, who flailed a bit at the unexpected – but welcome – assault.

"I know ya did that on purpose!" Jecht turned around and stuck his fingers back into his ears, making gagging noises.

She pushed Auron off with a giggle. "You love torturing him, don't you? Not that I'm complaining."

"Bothering Jecht is merely an additional benefit." He drew her close. "Am I correct in recalling that you threatened me with a swimming lesson?"

Rikku stared. That was suspicious. Auron, kissing her out of the blue to tease Jecht, then asking for swimming lessons while cuddling? "What's gotten into you?"

He cleared his throat, but maintained his grip. "I was looking forward to spending time with you," he said, and she almost believed him.

He really was trying hard, and it was definitely cuter than their first date, although in its own way, just as creepy. Auron didn't cuddle unless you hit him with a Confusion spell first. Which meant...

"You don't have to act weird to try and make me feel better," she chided. "I like you the way you are. Tough and gruff." She teased her fingers along the inside of his coat, tugging him closer. "Although you're right, we need to get rid of the highly sinkable part ASAP. Like, right after Braska's done here, okay?"

"…I was afraid you'd say that."

The Chamber of the Fayth doors parted, and Braska came to a stop at the top of the stairs. Rikku and Auron stood.

"Record time," Auron noted.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Braska smiled. "It's done. I've received the last aeon. I am now a fully realized summoner."

"That was damn fast," Jecht said, also joining them. "Does it get easier each time ya do it or somethin'?"

Braska shook his head. "No… the Fayth here is different from the others I've met so far. Very… gentle. I shall summon the aeon outside, and perhaps you'll understand."

Their exit from the small temple was quick, and after a brief announcement from Sister Ginnem, some of the townspeople came to watch Braska summon in the circle of beaten dirt in front of the temple.

Rikku studied the gathering with amusement; the "crowd" consisted of an elderly granny, four children who couldn't be older than ten, one sullen Crusader stuck manning the Crusader's Lodge, and Sister Ginnem herself. Still, they all watched with wide-eyed looks of anticipation as Braska stepped into the circle.

"Are you ready, my lord?" Ginnem asked.

Braska nodded, visibly amused. "Well… this is a larger crowd in attendance than when I first summoned Bahamut, I suppose."

He raised his staff and twirled it before extending his arms and leaning back. Beams of light circled his feet, rushing from the ground to meet the sky in a tightening spiral. A clear ring sounded when they clashed, forcing the clouds apart in a sudden gust of wind. And then, with a sonic boom, Valefor plummeted, twisting before spreading her wings to slow her descent. The rush of air from the aeon's arrival was strong enough to knock the smaller children to the ground.

That did little to stop the cheering and whistling that rose around Braska as he fell into Rapture. Valefor flapped a few times before landing with a thud, her wings still spread.

"Wow," Jecht whistled. "That thing sure knows how to make an entrance, don't it?"

"She," Rikku corrected, too busy drinking in the sight. Valefor, the heart and soul of Yuna's collection of aeons. Maybe summoners formed a special bond with the first aeon they called; whatever the reason, Valefor had always been the most responsive of Yuna's menagerie. She was also the only one Rikku had ever seen taking special note of anyone other than their direct enemies in the past – Valefor had often displayed affection for Tidus. Rikku had always guessed it was Yuna's influence somehow.

Now, the huge, bird-like aeon cocked its head and parted its beak, as if panting, and stared at her. Then it began to lumber towards them.

Auron stiffened. "What's it doing?"

"You're just noticing?" Jecht asked, obviously relaxed. "They always do that."

"Do what?" Rikku asked, as Valefor stopped before them, lowered its head, and blinked at her.

"Come over and take a look at Blondie," Jecht said. "They never give Auron here the time o' day."

"I don't know," she hedged. Anima had proved that they did notice her, at least to some extent. Until she'd stopped trying to throw herself into meeting the Fayth however, she would've described most of the attention as hostile.

Valefor stood upright, flapping her wings, and closed them in a gentle hug – over Jecht. A few murmurs and gasps rose from the villagers.

Huh. Maybe it wasn't Yuna's influence after all. "I don't think she was looking at me just now," she teased. Through Valefor's wings, Jecht stood frozen as the aeon trilled and nuzzled his head. Rikku tapped her chin. "Maybe they've been looking at you all this time, you know? Ifrit didn't give me the head noogie!"

"Hey, I never turn down new fans, but bein' hugged by a giant wind parrot is kinda creepy," Jecht muttered. "Nice birdie?" he called out to the aeon.

Valefor reared up with a screech that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Her wings unfurled, and she leapt into the sky, shaking her mane out once before dissolving into pyreflies.

Braska blinked as he straightened. He bowed in thanks to the resulting smattering of applause.

"That was wonderful!" Ginnem said, her eyes alight as she moved towards them. "You've collected all of them, yes? Have you called them all too? Might you be able to later? Was the journey to reach the other temples difficult? Or terribly expensive? How many can you summon – "

Braska held up his hands, silencing her. "All in good time, Sister. If you would allow me just a moment…"

"Oh! Oh of course, my lord," Ginnem said, blushing and bowing several times.

Wincing, Braska approached them. "I fear the rest of my day has been spoken for," he said in a low undertone to Auron. "If you'd be so kind as to settle the donation for the temple, the three of you can have the rest of the day to yourselves."

"Yeah!" Jecht punched the air. "Guess I'm goin' surfin' after all!" He looked at the village children, who had picked themselves up and were now milling around. "Who's with me?" he shouted.

They children brightened and swarmed him, cheering. Jecht gave Braska a parting wave as he led his newfound admirers away.

Auron was already sifting through his pouch, pulling out a large handful of gil. "A thought, my lord," he said with a smug grin. "I believe you should be the one to present the donation to Sister Ginnem. This was your idea, after all."

Braska blanched as he took the money. "Thank you, Auron. I'm sure the good Sister will be most appreciative."

Behind Braska, Ginnem giggled and waved.

"Enjoy your day together," Auron said with a smirk. It dropped as Rikku tapped his shoulder.

"You agreed to some swimming lessons, mister."

Now, it was Braska's turn to smirk. "Yes, you should enjoy your day as well. I've found Rikku to be an excellent teacher! Our sessions together were most pleasurable!"

"Bastard," Auron muttered as Rikku dragged him away, trying to stamp out her blush.

With the village so deserted – at least compared to what she was used to – it took little time for them to arrive at the hut she and Auron were sharing. He loitered awkwardly in the doorway.

She put her hands on her hips. "You're gonna need to strip down to your shirt and pants," she said. "No coat, no sword, no armor, no jugs of alcohol. You can keep your shoes if you want, but it's gonna make it that much harder if you're a beginner."

"No."

She narrowed her eyes. "Listen, I know how much you love your look, but you're gonna sink like a stone if you go into the water wearing all that."

Sighing, Auron unbuckled his bracer and discarded it.

"Wait, really? You're giving in just like that? I thought you were gonna put up more of a fight!"

Smirking, he removed his belt and threw it towards her. "You did ask me to strip. Who am I to refuse?"

Rikku didn't manage to catch the coat that came flying her way next. Well, at least it matches my face. Batting the fabric off her head, she pouted. "That's unfair, you know! We're still going swimming first." It was a mantra she had to repeat a few more times in her head as Auron removed his chestplate.

"Fine. If Jecht's performance on the way here was any indication, armor shouldn't be a problem." He stopped and glared at her. "But the sword stays."

"Oh no, it doesn't," she answered. "When you know how to float, you can bring your sword along. Otherwise, it's dead weight."

"There are still fiends out there," he insisted. She slapped the weapon out of his hands, threw it back onto the bed, and sat on it for good measure.

"The weakest fiends in all of Spira. And I'll still have my garment grid with me." The look on Auron's face told her what he thought of that idea, so she sighed. "Wow, okay. How about this? I can summon a sword for you if you need to fight, so leave the real one here."

"Hnn," he said, sounding unconvinced.

Huffing, she stood and activated her dressphere. Cherry blossoms fluttered around her, and she pulled her weapon from the air. "You are ridiculously stubborn," she groused, twirling the sword until it was pointed hilt-first at Auron. "Look. They're identical."

Rather than taking the weapon, his gaze was trained on her red coat, eyebrows raised. "That is… a unique interpretation. I'm amazed you've managed to duplicate my clothing, yet still reveal your stomach to the world."

"It's a gift." She scowled, impatient. "Now, are you going to stare and mock me, or do you want the sword?"

Auron grudgingly reached for it. Then tugged. "You do realize you have to let it go."

With a grimace, Rikku released her tight grip. "Be careful with that! It's not a toy," she warned.

He shot her a look as if to say, "Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Sorry, I can't help it! I get all… twitchy, thinking of someone else handling my weapons. That's all your fault, by the way." Adjusting the fit of her gloves, she pouted and tried not to feel naked. She was of half a mind to tell Auron to get his own sword back, but knew the compulsion was just the dressphere's influence. "Let's get this over with," she grumped, stomping outside.

Auron followed her out of the hut. She continued to fume and ignore him until they were halfway to Besaid's canyon. "This is a stupid idea," she muttered as she walked. "Swimming! Who needs to swim?" Well, technically Auron needed to swim; that was the whole problem, wasn't it?

Clenching her teeth, she tried not to blame Auron for neglecting such a basic aspect of his education. But, it was completely irresponsible of him, when he knew he'd be travelling overseas with Lord Braska. Of course, he always thought he knew best –

Auron chuckled and Rikku whirled around, annoyed. "What?" she bit out. "What exactly is so amusing about any of this?"

"You are," he said. He tapped her sword against his shoulder, where he was carrying it. "Are you really so upset that I am simply borrowing this?"

"Of course I am! Wouldn't you be?" she shot back.

"Mine is real," Auron said with a frown.

She fumed. How dare –

"No, I am not arguing with you about the quality of our swords right now. Tell me, why are you really angry?" He pinned her under a sharp stare.

Rikku threw her hands up in exasperation. "You want to know why? I'll tell you why!" She paced in front of him. "We're in Besaid, the perfect tropical getaway from almost every problem in Spira. But are we naked in a hut, getting to know each other better right now? No! Here we are in the jungle, battling insect bites and suffering this sweltering heat for a fool's errand!" She panted when she was done, directing an accusatory glare at Auron.

He was laughing at her again. "I can't argue your logic," he said. "But remember – you are the one who wanted this. Not I, obviously."

Rikku growled and stomped her foot. "I know!" she yelled, before whirling and stalking off.

Shaking his head, Auron trailed after her, still smiling.

.x.x.x.

Auron was both a fast learner and a merciless tease. The moment she'd dropped the Samurai costume, Rikku knew he wasn't going to let her live her dressphere-induced temper tantrum down. And he hadn't.

"There's still time for us to return to the village and improve our communication skills," he noted as he tread the water next to her.

She ignored the blush riding high on her cheeks. "Stop trying to get out of this! Show me that stroke one more time."

"Hnn," he grunted, before complying. He'd listened to her instructions and caught on to the basics with ease, but didn't have any natural grace in the water to speak of.

"Stop trying to punch through like that," she called as he splashed around her. "Water's not solid! Don't be so rigid. You have to flow before you can strike!" She winced as he made another hard slap against the surface, sending a geyser of spray everywhere.

Auron returned to treading the water. "You've taught me enough that I won't drown. Must we really waste any more time on this?"

Rikku sighed and checked the sun's position overhead. "I guess not," she grumbled. "We've been at it long enough. You can take a break."

Together, they swam back to the shore. She collapsed under one of the nearby palm trees while he stripped off his soaked shirt, laying it in the sun to dry. He joined her on the ground and let her rest her head against his bare chest. She melted when he began to comb his fingers against her scalp, working out a few of the knots in her hair.

Mmm. This is perfect.

"Rikku," he said after a few moments had passed. "I want to know more about you."

She smiled and traced a lazy finger between the muscles on his abdomen. "Don't you think we know each other pretty well by now?"

Auron caught her hand and squeezed her fingers in a gentle reprimand. "Not like that. I want to know more of your past."

She tensed. "I'm… I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she hedged. Auron remained silent, waiting, and she chewed her lip. "…What do you want to know?"

"Tell me about your first love," he said after a moment. "Who was he, and how did he break your heart?"

Of course he'd go for the jugular. "Oh, well, that's easy," she answered, thinking fast. "He was my best friend back when I was growing up. I thought he was The One, you know? So, I spent three weeks making him this awesome weapon. A mortar with a saw blade!"

"How imaginatively unpractical."

Rikku smacked Auron's chest. "Hey! I thought it was some of the best work I ever did! And you know what? So did he. He even gave me a thank-you kiss when I gave it to him!"

"So what happened to your One?" Auron asked with a hint of amused tolerance.

"I caught him making out with Nhadala behind the power generators the very next day."

"Thank you, Rikku." Auron sighed. "But you know I wasn't talking about your first childhood crush."

A girl can dream. She curled against him, frowning. "This isn't… easy."

"Of course not."

"How 'bout this: I'll make you a deal. You tell me something about you, and I'll tell you something about me. Fair and square!" She poked him. "I went first, so it's your turn now."

"Very well." He paused before asking, "You know that scar on my right thigh?"

"Oh, you mean this one?" She snaked her fingers under the waistband of his trousers to investigate, pouting when he sucked in his breath and gently pulled her hand away.

"Stop that. I actually want to talk to you."

"I can talk and do other things at the same time!" Rikku protested. "I'm multi-talented!"

Holding her wrists back, Auron smirked. "Yes, I know. I fully intend to put that boast to the test. Later. Right now I want to tell you about my scar."

Sulking, she collapsed against his side. "Fine, tell me your boring old battle story. I'll 'ooh' and 'ahh' in all the right places just to remind you of what we could be doing instead."

"It's not a battle scar," Auron said.

"What?" Surprised, her eyes dropped to his cloth-covered thigh. "But it's huge! And deep! What the heck did you do?"

Flushing slightly, he focused intently on the palm fronds overhead. "...Tattoo," he muttered.

Rikku blinked. Looked at his thigh again. "No way! You got a tattoo once? On your thigh?"

Clearing his throat, he nodded. "It was an ill-advised mistake of my youth. Once I realized that, I removed it myself. It was before I knew Braska."

Wincing, she freed her hand from Auron's grip and carefully cupped it over the scar. "That must've hurt. What was it a tattoo of anyway?"

"That's two questions," he said smugly. "Tell me about your belt. Why'd you steal it and run away?"

"Well… I didn't really steal it. It was a gift." Spotting the look on his face, she slapped his chest lightly – Oww, I bet that hurt my hand more than him – and growled. "I'm serious! It's mine! I'm not running from the Al Bhed because I'm a thief. It's... more of a family relations thing." To put it mildly. "I don't get along that well with Cid." At least that much was the honest truth.

"Well, we have that much in common," he replied. "So what would you like to know about me?"

"You can't seriously tell me about that tattoo and not say what it was!"

"It was a name," Auron said. When he offered nothing more, Rikku pounced on him.

"Oh no, you don't, you big meanie! It's tickle torture until you spill!"

Once again, Auron drew her hands away gently, although the smile had dropped from his face. "It was a woman's name."

Rikku froze. Wait, hold up. What? She laughed uneasily. "I think I must have just heard you wrong. Because it sounded like you just said it was a woman's name."

Auron's fingers wove themselves through her hair, settling against her scalp and gently bringing her head to rest under his chin. "I was sixteen, the first time I thought myself in love."

She was surprised by the seriousness of his voice. Rikku blinked and held her breath.

"I was already in training with the other acolytes. We weren't meant to be only soldiers; we still had to learn the Teachings. There was a nun who favored me. She took me under her wing."

He fell silent. She prodded him. "When you say she took you in, you mean – "

"Yes," he said, curt. "She took my virginity. She was an instructor at the seminary; I was seduced by her tender words and gentle touches. But I was a foolish boy, and I made a simple mistake." He made a small noise of self-depreciation. "I told Kinoc."

Ouch. "What happened? He turn you guys in?"

He laughed. "I almost wish he had, but no. Wen forced me to shadow him the very next day. He met with her, and she bedded him. I was… made to understand that it wasn't I who caught her eye; she was an older woman who had a taste for the boys." He paused, exhaling as if to purge the memory from his mind. "I left them to their pleasures, lost the contents of my stomach, and decided that notions such as love and affection were pretty lies spun by the ignorant."

Rikku bit her lip in the pregnant silence that followed. Holy machina. Her surprise was quickly overshadowed by a twisting, uncomfortable sensation tugging at her gut; a mixture of helpless rage and sadness, struggling to be contained. How could she – how could anyone –

As if sensing her discomfort, Auron's arms tightened around her, and his voice lost some of its clinical detachment as he continued. "There was a short time afterwards that I followed Kinoc's lead and tried to assuage my disappointment in simpler transactions. But I never enjoyed myself as he did. It was all just… too much effort."

She let out a shaking breath, afraid to look at him. So Auron had a wild past because some bitch broke him. Her fingers spasmed against him.

"I shouldn't have told you," he murmured, his body stiffening.

"No!" She snapped her neck up so quickly she nearly clipped him on the chin. "No, I'm not upset at you!" Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his desperately, trying to force all her churning emotions into the kiss. "I'm not mad, not at you. It wasn't your fault! I really really hate the Church, you know, and not just because I'm Al Bhed. I mean, mostly because I'm Al Bhed, and also because of this whole murdering Summoners thing, but this is just the cherry on top of the rotten shoopuf parade."

"Don't be sorry," Auron told her. "I wanted to tell you this. I thought you should know. Yes, it was a difficult time in my life. But here we are now, and that's all that matters."

"I'm glad you changed your mind about love," Rikku said in a small voice. She felt ashamed; she'd demanded this exchange, and Auron had given her a larger glimpse into his troubled past than she'd deserved.

"I didn't. You did," he told her, leaning over to kiss her.

He sealed it with a guilt trip! Breaking off the kiss, she winced; she'd dug this hole all by herself. And now, he was waiting for her to answer him.

"The guy who broke my heart…" she began. "He was a lot like you. You know, gruff and tough. I guess I have a type." A type named Auron. "He was older than me. Like, a lot older. He taught me everything there was to know about being a Guardian." She closed her eyes and forced herself to think of him as he was then; older, wiser, more bitter. "He… was devoted to protecting the people close to him, and right from the beginning he saw me for who I really was." She trailed off and pressed her ear against Auron's chest, listening to the soothing rhythm of his heart. His beating, alive, very very real heart.

"But?" Auron prompted.

"But I don't think he ever loved me," she admitted. "And he died before I could tell him how I felt."

The silence between them stretched, heavy, but not entirely uncomfortable.

"I think…" He paused. "...your first love was a good experience for you."

Snorting, Rikku snuggled more securely into his embrace. "What, getting my heart broken into a million pieces and not getting over it until I met you?" Again.

"It seems like he was a good influence on you, to have taught you some truly important things, both about yourself and about being a Guardian. You can look beyond the surface, and see things for what they are. That's a rare gift he gave to you, one you should be thankful for."

"You know, I guess I really am." She stifled a smile. "He was kinda like the gift that keeps on giving," she said, no longer talking about the older Auron.

"He may have missed a wonderful opportunity, but I'm glad I didn't." Auron squeezed her. "Thank you for telling me. Don't be afraid of the demons of your past. This Pilgrimage is not like your first. I love you, and we will not fail."

Rikku could only curl closer and close her eyes, listening intently to each beat of his heart.

Jecht and Rikku's discussion about free will is pretty much the unravelling of a Sam Harris quote, which is mildly interesting in that it comes from the book where Harris argues that none of us actually have free will. Also, you might have extrapolated that the "boy with the saw mortar" Rikku was talking about is Gippal.