45: A Heap Of Huts

Rikku rubbed her eyes and stretched, drinking in the fresh morning air on the Liki's deck.

The evening had passed uneventfully – as uneventfully as sharing a room with Auron could ever be – and now, the island of Besaid was in sight. Shallow sea shelves, lined with bursts of rainbow coral, necessitated a circuitous route around the island, despite its close proximity to Kilika. It was almost as long as the trip from Luca to Kilika would have been, had Sin not interrupted their journey.

Nostalgic, she watched Besaid's scenic shoreline pass by; she'd made the very same trip herself countless times on her cutter, back in the year following Yuna's Pilgrimage.

That was a rough time. Rikku winced. She'd run away, fast as she could, when things had settled down. Run from the whiplash of realizing they'd lost Auron before he'd even joined the Pilgrimage. Run from the memory of Tidus disappearing without so much as a by-your-leave.

Yunie was the one who'd been really ripped in two by it, but she'd put on a strong face and stayed in Besaid, dealing as best she could with the fallout generated from toppling a thousand-year-old world order.

Rikku hadn't been that brave. Auron and Tidus were gone, and in the wake of the Eternal Calm, there'd finally been enough time for the loss of both Home and Keyakku to settle in. Brother disowned himself from Cid, unwilling to fill his role as Keyakku's disappointing shadow while her father attempted to rebuild Home. She'd chosen to flee on her own ship with Gippal and his Machine Faction backing her efforts, using the flimsy, yet effective, excuse of "teaching."

Still, something always brought her back to Besaid. Yuna didn't deserve to suffer from the crazy in her extended family, but Rikku wanted to make sure Yunie realized she still was part of a family – one that disapproved of the slew of marriage proposals thrust towards their heartbroken cousin.

She still thought Yuna's decision to run away and join the Gullwings was the best one she'd ever made.

Rikku gulped in the clean, salty air. It hadn't been easy, but she missed those days. She smiled, surprised; it hadn't seemed like such a great time to her then, as an awkward sixteen-year-old who was disillusioned in more ways than one. But she'd been free, and she'd sailed those seas like she owned them, with Yuna as her anchor in Besaid.

The soft breeze whipped her hair into her eyes; pushing her braids away from her face, she thought about how far she'd come from those days. Calmer, more mature, less accident-prone –

"Look out!"

Something slammed into the back of her head, knocking her over. She kissed the deck and groaned, before pushing herself up on her elbows. A blitzball rolled away from her, Jecht's scrawling signature taunting her as it tumbled past.

"Oops! Sorry, ya? Didn't see you there!" The man – a native to Besaid, judging by his accent and complete lack of aim – bowed in apology and scooped up his blitzball.

Rikku stood, one hand clenching. Right in the middle of an inner monologue, she fumed, scanning the deck for Jecht. Instead, she spotted Braska, sitting against the mast and holding back laughter, eating Wakka's favorite local pudding for breakfast.

"Please don't look at me that way. I had little to do with Jecht's dispersal of blitzballs this morning." He held up his hands in appeasement and sent a Cure spell her way.

"Tell me where he is," she demanded, only slightly mollified by the disappearance of her headache. "I'll show him where he can put those extra blitzballs!"

"I haven't seen him." Braska busied himself with his food.

She narrowed her eyes. Taro root pudding is not that interesting. "Are you covering for him? Why?"

Braska's smile revealed nothing of his thoughts – or Jecht's potential whereabouts. "Jecht is in his element. Why don't we allow him to enjoy this moment while he has it? Besides," he added, "Besaid truly loves Blitzball. I've never seen such devotion to a home team, not even in Luca."

Rikku thought about the Aurochs with a wince. "Too bad about their losing streak."

"Whether they win or lose isn't important." Braska tilted his head at her surprised look. "They always try to do their best. I can appreciate their spirit. I'm sure they will be rewarded for their tenacity one day."

"Uh huh." She crossed her arms. "I'm gonna put money on them having a really long dry spell." Her stomach rumbled, undermining her brief moment of victory for besting Braska's game of subtexts.

He patted the ground next to him. "Sit, please. I've had my fill, and it looks as though you've worked up an appetite. Besides, there is another rather pressing matter I need to address."

"Hmm," she said, joining him. "No funny business!" Auron's reprimand still rang in her ears.

"I'll leave that to Auron," Braska replied, handing over his bowl. "Where is he? I thought you two were joined at the hip."

Rikku choked a little. If a snark-off is what he wants, then that's what he's gonna get. She sniffed and swirled her spoon around the bowl. "I know, right? Mister up-and-at-'em is having another lie-in today. I guess I tired him out."

"What a joy it must be, to be so young and vigorously in love," Braska answered without missing a beat.

"Tell me about it! It was a long, hard night but somehow we managed to push through it together." She smiled innocently at Braska.

"So I gather. I do hope my lessons on the importance of listening to others' needs have been getting through to Auron. I am sure they would be most beneficial to you. Both," he added, almost as an afterthought.

Rikku's eyebrow twitched. He can't be seriously talking about –

"How is your head doing, by the way?" Braska continued, his face placid. "That was a fairly sound knock that blitzball delivered to you. Would you like me to take another look at it?" He paused, tapping his chin. "Or perhaps you might desire Auron to handle you. It would be an excellent test of his nascent skills."

"Auron's skills aren't nascent!" she spluttered. "I'm pretty sure I'm the better judge of that!"

Braska's guileless blink made her pause. "I was merely speaking of healing, Rikku. There is no need to be so defensive, now is there?" His eyes twinkled. "Or is there something else you would like to talk about? Do you mean to say Auron needs my assistance now? Is that why he is not here? What in Spira did you two do last evening, anyway?"

All right, I lose, she thought, feeling her face heat. "I can't believe I'm making weird innuendos about this with you! Is there a point to this conversation?"

Braska chuckled, then sobered. "That is my point." He sat forward and faced her. "You are both young and in love. Have you thought through the consequences of your actions?"

She stared. "This from you?"

"I think I know better than most how much one's feelings can impair one's judgement."

At least he looks uncomfortable for once.

"I am also a trained healer. Auron is not." He waited, and when Rikku said nothing, his cheeks reddened. "I am not saying I would be unwilling to offer my services… as a healer," he added when her expression darkened. "But may I suggest that you have this discussion with Auron first, before that becomes necessary?"

Rikku continued to stare, the pudding forgotten. Did seeing Auron and I finally get together make him crack? What's he talking about?

Braska continued to look more and more discomfited as she remained silent – looking at her, then the sky, and finally fiddling with his robes – before blurting, "Children, Rikku. I'm speaking of the creation of life."

Rikku froze. Kids? Truth be told, the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. With everything that'd been thrown at them, she was happy enough that her love life was finally straightening out.

Now, Braska was finding a way to transform even that into rising panic.

KIDS, her mind repeated with emphasis.

It was also supplying helpful images: scores of tiny, blond-haired Aurons swarming underfoot, their faces drawn into scowls as they smashed pointed sticks and chubby fingers against everything that moved.

Owwie. A distant part of her mind registered the sharp pain as she collapsed against the deck; it wasn't a good day for the back of her head, apparently. Braska hovered over her with a look of concern, a healing spell at his fingertips.

"Rikku?"

It wasn't her overactive imagination that put her in a dazed stupor; it was the sudden, unexpected clench in her belly that moved, fluttering, towards her throat.

I don't not like that idea.

Then the alarm bells started wailing in her brain. Her answer to Braska was an expletive so colorful it made him blush.

"Rikku – "

"Nope," she said, standing and immediately pacing. She held her face, continuing to curse, switching to Al Bhed. "Rumo credcdelgc! E ys cu vilgat! Brother's kuhhy gemm sa! Ra'mm gemm Auron!"

"I don't believe anyone can kill Auron," Braska told her in appeasement. "At least not over the matter of your honor. Now please sit, you're drawing undue attention."

Suddenly numb, Rikku plopped back down next to Braska. "I can't spawn yet!" Then her head shot up, eyes wild. "What if it's already happened? I need to find Auron! No, wait, I need to hide from Auron!" She wailed, "I'm not ready!"

"Breathe." Braska placed a hand on her shoulder. "In and out," he directed, guiding her through the calming technique. "There's nothing to be gained by panicking at this point. What's done is done and my concerns may be baseless."

She latched onto his words. "You're the strongest white mage I know! Can you check? Like, right now?" She wanted to kick herself for the hope in her voice, but she was feeling pretty desperate.

He went quiet, then nodded slowly. "I suppose I could try. Lean back and hold still," he instructed, extending his hands – suffused in a soft green flow – over her lower abdomen.

His power coiled around her.

Since Baaj, there was something like a flavor to his magic now; whether it was from the kisses he had "enhanced" or the fully charged Life spell he'd poured into her, she wasn't sure. But she could tell it was Braska casting the spell, warm and probing. He wasn't attempting to stimulate or overwhelm; his face was stilled in concentration, eyes half-closed.

Finally, his magic withdrew with one last caress.

She shivered. "Well?"

Braska shook his head and she wilted against the mast, unsure if in relief or disappointment.

In relief, she scolded herself firmly. Not firmly enough, from the look he gave her.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Rikku closed her eyes and flapped a hand at him. "It's okay, I'm – it's better this way." She took a deep breath and held it, letting her racing heart slow. "We'll… we'll be more careful in the future."

Braska sighed. "You don't have to be, if this is what you want. You'd make a fine mother, if just because you care to be one." He gave her an encouraging smile. "But speak with Auron first. Decisions like these aren't yours alone to make."

Still feeling humbled and foolish, she picked up the abandoned bowl of pudding and dug in.

He looked away.

Without the sudden panic buffeting her, she frowned and studied the contents of her bowl, unsettled. That… was more than just a little mean, wasn't it? Although Braska was willing to do her favors if she asked, forcing him to use his magic like that when she knew how he felt was a new low. She cast about for something to say, because "Oops! Sorry!" seemed inadequate.

Finally, she settled on neutral territory: Jecht's observation. "So, you were a missionary, right?"

Braska blinked and looked back at her, clearly surprised. "Yes, that's right. Why do you ask?"

"Well, that means you had to convince people to believe in the stuff you told them."

"You make it sound so mercenary." Braska relaxed. "I believed in my words, you must understand. You cannot convert anyone with empty lies and false promises. People can sense sincerity. I would have had no luck otherwise."

"I know, but I mean… I'm just trying to understand why you're so bad with money when you're so good at handling people." Rikku shrugged at his affronted look. "You get walked over by every single merchant you meet."

"How do you know that's true?" he asked with a frown.

"How much did you pay for your new shoes?"

Braska's frown deepened while studying his shoes. "Supporting Kilika's economy is a noble endeavor." His look of displeasure faded into honest contemplation. "But if you must know, the Church paid all of my expenses when I was a priest. Handling money was never my concern."

"That explains a lot."

"I suppose I don't know the value of gil. And I prefer to believe that most people in Spira are good and have our best interests at heart."

"Nobody has your best interests at heart when it comes to money," she told him. "It's a fiend-eat-fiend world out there."

He smiled. "Then, I suppose being taken in by merchants is the price I have to pay for rejecting your pessimistic attitude."

She groaned. "We both know I'm right, but you're still making me sound like the bad guy here! How do you do that?"

"Years of practice," Braska told her, smug. "So, would you happen to be interested in learning more about the Church of Yevon?" His playful smile faded as he focused on something over her shoulder. "Ah, perhaps another time."

Rikku turned and watched Auron approaching them. He looked well-rested and relaxed.

She grimaced. That's about to change. "Hey," she greeted.

"Braska. Rikku." He zeroed in on the bowl of pudding in her hands. "Is that breakfast?"

Braska smirked and pushed himself to his feet. "I apologize for my rudeness, but if you would excuse me? Rikku has something to discuss with you, and I believe you'll be wanting some privacy." He gave her an encouraging nod and moved away.

Auron settled in Braska's spot and took the bowl from her, eyeing its contents with a look of distaste. "Southern cuisine," he muttered without enthusiasm. Grabbing the spoon reluctantly, he watched Braska's retreat. "What was that about?"

"Don't start eating yet," she warned. She felt a little sorry for the bowl; it was fast becoming Spira's most passed-over breakfast. "I need to tell you something important."

"This bodes well," Auron said, lowering the spoon. "What is it?"

"Well, it's more of a question really," she hedged, scratching her cheek.

"Out with it."

Rikku swallowed. "So… how do you feel about kids?"

He dropped the bowl, sending the remaining pudding to its final resting place across the planks. She allowed herself a short sulk; Auron cottoned onto things a lot faster than she did.

Surprise and panic flashed across his face. "Are you – "

"Oh! No, no-no! At least Braska doesn't think so."

Auron sagged in relief.

"…You really don't want to have children, do you?"

"I've never considered it." He ran his hands through his hair. "I feel like a fool. I apologize."

"Not just you," she said. "I panicked too, at first. But then, you know… I thought about it, and would it really be all that bad? Bringing a little piece of both of us into this world together?"

"Yes," Auron replied without hesitation.

Rikku struggled to mask her sudden dismay. Granted, her first response had been almost exactly the same, but still...

He sighed. "You're getting things wrong again."

Rikku scoffed, unable to meet his gaze. "What? It was just a question. No biggie." Thick pudding oozed across the deck as she tried to resist the urge to flee from Auron. It didn't work, so she leapt to her feet. "I better get something to clean that up with."

His hand wrapped around her forearm and he brought her back down to the deck with a thump. "Rikku. Listen to me." His grip loosened and he traced his thumb down her wrist until he was clasping her hand. "If I were to consider that as an option, you would be my first choice."

"Wow. Romantic," she deadpanned. Still, she allowed him to pull her to his side.

"I'm a soldier," Auron replied. "I've always expected to die young and violently. I never planned for a life beyond my duty. Being in the service of Braska, rather than the Church, hasn't changed that."

Rikku frowned, discomfited. "You almost sound like Braska."

"Hardly." Auron grunted. "I don't seek my own death, but I still manage to find it for my opponents often enough. I can't live a peaceful life, Rikku." He sighed. "It's cruel, perhaps, but I'm not about to change my mind in the midst of the largest and longest battle I've ever fought."

"You mean Sin." She squeezed her eyes shut, angry.

"Your offer is one neither of us can afford." His hand tightened around hers, as if to soften his words.

It didn't help. So what if it she wasn't the problem? Auron was still trapped, just like Braska and Jecht and everyone else in Spira – trapped by the shadow of fear Sin cast over everything.

She'd gone soft in the few hopeful years after Yuna's Pilgrimage – been freed from that fatalistic mindset. Frustration built in her chest until she thought it would come spewing out of her throat. It was cruel; to be shown a glimpse of a future she hadn't even known she wanted, only to have it crushed before it could become more than a fleeting idea.

Because Auron was right, and she knew it. It wasn't right, bringing an innocent child into a world ravaged by Sin. She'd just… forgotten.

Rikku turned her head into Auron's shoulder and hugged him.

"I wish it could be otherwise," he said, stroking her back.

That was maybe the most unfair thing of all.

"I don't want to complete this Pilgrimage," she said, her voice rough. "Besaid is the last temple we need to visit, right? Can't we stop this? All of us, just forget about finishing it and live normal lives?"

"What life could be normal when we're forced to live like this?" Auron's sigh did little to hide the anger and frustration in it. "We'll change things. Braska and I, we'll fix this broken world. I'll make sure we do."

Rikku blinked, understanding just a little more of the puzzle that was Auron – he wasn't following Braska out of blind loyalty alone. "You want to finish this Pilgrimage. You want to kill Sin." She paused. "Even though it will kill Braska, too?"

"We can't choose how others want to live and die, but I've made mine." The certainty in Auron's voice tapered off, and his words sounded more like a reassurance to himself, rather than an answer. "I'll find a way to ensure Braska's survival. I must."

Not just Braska. Somewhere along the way, she'd invested too many pieces of herself in all of them. Jecht and his stupid blitzballs, Auron and his unyielding certainty. The realization of Auron's ideal future – of a happy and Sin-free Spira – was growing more and more distant in Rikku's mind. Does that make me a bad person? She wondered if he would still love her if he knew of the betrayal she was flirting with. The entire drama surrounding Baaj would pale in comparison. Heck, what would Braska and Jecht say – it was their childrens' futures she was thinking of throwing away.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she answered with an uncertain smile. "Here's to hoping."

.x.x.x.

Besaid's sparkling, white-sand beach was just as beautiful as Rikku remembered. She spread her arms, unable to hold in her laugh as she spun around. "I love this place!"

Whirling, she squinted against the glare of the sun. The image was so familiar, she almost thought she could see Wakka on the dock, a blitzball under one arm and waving with the other.

"What's gotten into ya?" The mirage wavered and reshaped itself into Jecht, who tossed the blitzball into the air with a grin. "Not that I can blame ya. This is great!" He leapt forward and kicked the ball towards her, and Rikku ducked out of the way. "Hell, who'd even wanna practice blitzin' here? Let's get straight to the surfin'!"

Auron cuffed Jecht on the back, forcing him down the pier towards the beach. "We're not here for your amusement. The village of Besaid is a long hike away from the dock. If we want to reach it before nightfall, we should set out soon."

Braska followed behind, taking in the bright sky and calm blue sea. "There's no hurry, Auron. We'll be spending a few days here regardless. We may as well enjoy ourselves." He looked around, smiling. "It's so very different from Bevelle."

"That's because only a handful of people live here," Auron reminded. "The temple is the only thing keeping this settlement alive."

"I'm not so sure about that," Braska replied, watching one of the native women tending to a fishing net; a few children ran along the beach, buzzing with excitement. "There's something compelling about living so far removed from the bustle of the larger cities."

"Compelling?" Auron nodded towards the children, who were now dancing around Jecht as he passed out the remainder of his blitzballs. "I would be surprised if they could read."

"Oh come on!" Rikku shoved her elbow into Auron's side. "Just because we're on the edge of civilization doesn't mean they're all illiterate. Give Besaid a little credit!"

"They are famous for their beadwork and fabrics here, but they've little else to offer."

"It may not be perfect," Braska replied, clucking his tongue. "But look at how happy they are. Have you ever seen children in Bevelle that lively?"

Surprised shouts sounded as Jecht performed the Mark III for the kids. The ball whistled through the air – toward them.

"Look out," Braska shouted.

Auron and Braska dove; Rikku stared in horror at the approaching ball.

Holy machina —

It hit her in the stomach, sending her flying off the pier and into the sand. It stung, but not nearly as much as her pride. Coughing and spitting, she sat up, holding the blitzball in trembling hands. "Ra'c y tayt syh." Sucking in her breath, she bellowed, "JECHT!"

"Uh-oh. She sounds like Auron," he said.

Only Braska's loud laugh stopped her from exacting her revenge. "It feels lighter here," he said quietly before raising his voice. "Jecht! Please remember to set a good example for the children while you practice."

"Come and apologize to Rikku before I also begin to practice," Auron added, cracking his knuckles.

Jecht approach her with a hangdog expression, surrounded by a hoard of giggling children. "Yeah, so, that was the Mark III in action." He eyed her with a wary look. "Sorry 'bout that Blondie. Thought you could take the hit."

Was that a smirk just now? He's so dead. "Ahaha! Sure thing! Now, watch closely," she said to the children with a bright smile. "I'll show you how to perform a tackle!"

"Wait, ya really don't need to do that, Blon– OW! OWW! GET OFFA ME! UNCLE!"

Auron cleared his throat and glared at them.

She looked up from where she'd landed – on Jecht's back – and carefully withdrew her knee from its spot between his shoulderblades.

"That looked like it hurt, ya?" one of the boys observed. "I'm not sure I wanna be a forward anymore."

Jecht lifted his head and spat sand. "That's 'cause you're only supposed to do that underwater." He rolled to his feet, knocking Rikku off in the process, and thrust his chest out. "But it ain't that easy to take down Sir Jecht, best Blitzball player in all Spira!"

"What he's saying is build your endurance, munchkins." She smirked. "If you wanna be like Jecht, you're gonna need to learn to take a lot of hits."

"Enough," Auron called, beginning to walk from the pier. "You can return to the beach later. Let's get to the village first."

There was a chorus of cheerful goodbyes as Rikku and Jecht caught up with Auron and Braska. Braska was grinning at them. "Really. You two are as bad as the children."

"He started it," she grumbled, shaking sand out of her hair.

"Aww, c'mon, it was fun." Jecht grabbed his pack out of Auron's hands. "So tell me more about Besaid."

"Ask Braska," she told him, still annoyed. "You know, you're lucky I was in a good mood earlier. I almost decided not to give you this, since you used me for target practice. Jerk." She pulled a wide, plain metal bracelet out of her pouch and handed it to Jecht. "Try it on, it's a new piece of armor I tooled up earlier. I made it just for you."

"What's it do?"

"It helps with the fiends."

"Huh," Jecht said, slipping the accessory on. "Well, I don't feel different."

"You'll see," she assured him. "Now stay back here, I'll help Auron clear the path ahead. And before you get any big ideas about sneaking up on us, I'll be pretending everything we bust up is you, so leave us alone. Don't even think about trying the Mark III again!"

"Touchy," he groused.

Auron nodded at her. "Ready?"

"Yeah. Just a little warning though," she said with a furtive glance over her shoulder. "Walk fast."

"Should I even ask? …do I need to worry about Braska?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Rikku said with a broad smile. "Now let's go-go-go!"

.x.x.x.

Auron and Rikku took point through the passage ascending to the jungle.

"Besaid was a great metropolis over a thousand years ago," Braska said to Jecht. "The Church's records claim it was once the seat of power for training future Summoners. Little is left of that legacy today, besides the Temple of Wind. The village that shares its name is now hidden in the depths of the older ruins." He gestured at the worn stone steps and overgrown columns decorating the rocky path. "Besaid, as it stands today, may be one of the smallest permanent settlements left in Spira."

"Huh," said Jecht, pushing aside a vine.

The path meandered towards a bridge that passed a roaring waterfall. A tough-shelled fiend ambled onto the path, marring the scenic overlook's beauty, but Auron quickly batted it over the edge of the walkway.

" 'Cept for the usual fiends, seems kinda peaceful here."

A Garuda swooped down and both men squinted as a dressphere activated with a flash of light. Auron rubbed his head, looking annoyed while Rikku's loud laughter echoed. The sound of machine gun fire and explosions filled the air, and, when the bird wavered and dropped to the ground, Auron finished it with a single swing of his sword.

"Mostly peaceful," Braska agreed. "The high concentration of fiends here today is likely due to the bulk of Besaid's population attending the Tournament in Luca. With no one patrolling the road, the journey may be a bit more trying, though it's not a difficult one."

A Flan wibbled its way towards them.

Braska fried it with a Holy spell. "Although this is a bit excessive."

A Dingo and a Condor rushed out of the forest together, ignoring Auron and Rikku and barreling straight towards them.

"No sweat," Jecht said, drawing his own sword. "I been practicin', I can keep up with those two! Leave this to me." He rushed forward to meet the wild dog and swung his sword out in a wide chop; the fiend dissolved into pyreflies. The flyer was a little trickier; Jecht had to take a few swipes at it before he landed a hit. He gave Braska a thumbs up when he was finished. "See? Told ya so."

"Behind you," Braska said, pointing.

Jecht scowled as another two Condors flapped towards them. A Flan struggled to keep up. "You guys want more of this? Well, bring it on!" He charged into battle with an eager yell.

"Something is strange about this," Braska murmured, leaving Jecht behind as he quickened his pace.

.x.x.x.

They'd made good time down the path, as per Rikku's instructions; Auron held up a hand to slow her down, squinting. "Wait." He tilted his head towards Braska, hurrying towards them.

"What exactly is going on?" Braska managed to say, struggling to catch his breath.

Rikku leaned over and looked down the path. "Jecht's not with you?" At the shake of Braska's head, she grinned. Payback is golden! "Good. But, uh, we should keep moving."

"I take it your hurry is somehow related to Jecht's irresistible appeal to the fiends?" Braska paused. "And you might have warned me," he added with a touch of indignation.

"Like the fiends here are anything to worry about," she scoffed.

Auron grunted at her. "How?"

"That bracelet I gave him," she answered, skipping a little with pride. "I designed it myself. I call it a Lure Bracer. Well, you can see what it does…" She pointed at the bridge behind them. Jecht was racing across it, chased by a flock of squawking Condors. His bare feet looked splattered with blue.

"Is that Flan goo?" Auron muttered in confusion. "Fiends turn into pyreflies when they're slain. How did he manage – "

The question was answered as the bridge Jecht crossed was suddenly swarmed by a mass of undulating blue Flans, wobbling after him.

"Oopsie?" Rikku said, scratching her head. "I guess it works a little too well."

Braska eyed the parade of Flans with baffled awe. "I've never seen so many in one place."

Auron's face darkened into a scowl. "I'm going to have to deal with this, aren't I?"

She pouted. "Don't blame me! Jecht hit me with those blitzballs one time too many, okay?"

"I think we can safely blame you for this," Auron replied, drawing his sword.

"Technically that fisherman from Besaid was the one who hit you," Braska reminded. He raised his staff and blasted the first wave of the crossing fiends with another Holy spell, buying Jecht some respite.

"He's still guilty by association," she grumbled, taking down one of the Condors with an Ice spell of her own.

Auron waited at the end of the bridge, positioning himself as a human chokepoint. "'It'll be just like a vacation,' she said. 'I'll teach you how to swim,' she said," he muttered.

"Oh, come on!" She joined Auron and poked him in the shoulder. "We're in Besaid."

"Fiends are fiends," he replied, casting a baleful glare over his shoulder. "And there are more than a few of them following Jecht straight down this path towards the village." He scowled. "I can see that more training sessions are in order." He raised his voice and ordered, "Jecht! Keep them away from civilians!"

Jecht glared at Auron incredulously, then turned and ran back over the bridge towards the slow-moving army of Flan, cursing.

Braska peered at Auron. "We're still quite far from the village."

Auron relaxed, resting the flat of his blade against his shoulder. "He doesn't know that."

Rikku spent another moment watching Jecht wade into the sea of sticky blue creatures, then grinned at Auron. "So back up there. Fiends are fiends? Are they really, though?"

"Is now the time for a philosophical discussion?" Braska asked, sending a healing spell at Jecht.

"Just hear me out for a minute," she replied. " 'Cause I have a theory…"

Auron made a show of leaning against the post of the bridge. "This should be good."

Behind him, Jecht wailed and Braska raised his staff again, casting. "I used Regen this time, so we should have a few moments. You have a fiend theory?"

"Well," she began. "The fiends in Besaid are the wimpiest things you've ever met, right? They're even easier than those bugs in Kilika." Searching the ground, Rikku bent over and picked up a large pebble, tossing it in her palm. "Watch this." She closed one eye, took aim, and lobbed the stone at a passing Condor, which burst into pyreflies. Nodding in satisfaction, she turned back to her companions. "Even the kids here could kill them."

Some of them did so as a sport in the future, actually. She'd been responsible for that, seeing as how she couldn't resist tinkering with the slingshots the hopeful children had gifted her during her stint as a "teacher." It was easy enough to improve the range and efficiency, as well as their capacity to fire objects larger than pebbles – such as fruit.

The first time a hut had gotten papayaed, Lulu hadn't been amused.

Shaking her head, she refocused on her theory. "So the real question is, why are the fiends in Besaid so weak?"

"Hmm," Braska mused. "I may have a theory about that myself, but I'd like to hear yours first."

She waited, but Auron shook his head. "I don't speculate. My job is to kill them, nothing more."

"Well, I think it's related to population density," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "There aren't so many people here, so there's less material to deal with when… something happens." There was a moment of shared silence as everyone recognized something as Sin attacks and kills a bunch of people. She cleared her throat. "I mean, there's just not enough pyreflies available to create the greater fiends."

At that, even Auron perked up in interest.

"See, I'm not really convinced that fiends are made from the resentment of the dead," Rikku continued. "They're made from pyreflies. And pyreflies are released from the bodies of people who die. So… basically, since less people die, less powerful fiends are made here."

Somewhere behind them Jecht howled, as if to disagree.

Braska frowned. "Perhaps. But no matter where or how, death occurs when Sin attacks. The feelings of loss and despair would be the same, whether there were one or many victims. An individual's strength of will cannot be so easily quantified and measured. It would only take one grief-stricken unsent with an exceptionally strong will to create a fiend of extraordinary power, if what Yevon teaches us is true."

She hesitated, thinking of Seymour and Yunalesca. Technically, they weren't fiends… were they? She wasn't sure what she'd call Seymour or Yunalesca's final forms otherwise. But what did that make Auron? Would he also have been destined to become a fiend if Yuna hadn't – Stop it. "Well, how do you explain Besaid then?"

"I suspect it has more to do with the attitude of the people who live here." Braska paused to send another Cure towards Jecht before resuming their conversation. "How would each of you describe them?"

"Naive," Auron answered, then grimaced as Braska and Rikku both scowled. "Fine. Innocent."

"C'mere you lil' shits – OWW! Fuck! FUCK!"

"Jecht! Language!" Braska shouted.

"Happy-go-lucky!" she said to Braska when he turned back towards them. That described Wakka to a point, and it even applied in some extent to Lulu's unflappable equilibrium. "They just don't let anything bother them here. Besaid's full of the most laidback people I've ever met!"

"Exactly," Braska finished with a knowing look. "Innocence. Happiness. The ability to shrug off sorrow and continue living their lives to the fullest. Besaid is a village full of people who have refused to give up and abandon their hope. In doing so, I believe they are protecting their village in a way unique to all of Spira." He gestured at the fiends still plaguing Jecht.

Rikku observed the battle. Jecht was now being swarmed by the Condors, who were snapping at his long hair. He was still making a mess, stomping his way through a slimy sea of blue Flan, and had abandoned his sword in favor of swinging about with his fists alone. It was a comical way to fight – she had to push down a few snickers watching him flail – but he was still making pyreflies out of almost everything he struck.

"Anywhere else that would be suicidal rather than amusing," Braska noted. "But here, the spirits of the people of Besaid are keeping him safe. The dead do not hold grudges in this place. There's no malice left substantial enough to create powerful fiends."

"Interesting." Auron straightened. "Maybe both of you are correct. Perhaps those who pass with happiness in their souls can't be corrupted."

Braska grinned wolvishly. "Oh? You've taken a sudden interest in studying fiend philosophy, I see. Whatever happened to 'don't ask me, I just kill 'em' ?"

Auron snorted. "Don't mistake my lack of commentary for a lack of interest. I'm not Jecht," he scoffed. "Speaking of which..." He pointed at Jecht, who had slipped on the Flan goop and was now rolling around on the ground, still raising pyreflies.

Braska sighed and twirled his staff once, bowing his head. Light bloomed and Ixion burst out of the sky. The aeon whinnied and charged across the bridge after Jecht.

As Ixion met the morass of oozing fiends, he sent a sea of sparks through them, dissolving the remaining bodies into pyreflies. It was over in mere moments and the aeon joined the flood, dissolving into light and releasing Braska from his Rapture.

The Condors were still circling around Jecht, and Auron squinted at them. "Deal with the birds, Rikku. As much as it warms me to see Jecht suffer, this is your fault."

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled, raising her hands and channeling the power through her garment grid. A few Thunders later, there was nothing left but pyreflies drifting through the sky and the smell of burnt hair. "Whoops," she called out to Jecht. "My aim wasn't so good that time."

Jecht rose to his feet, panting. He glared, pulling the bracelet off his wrist and holding it up. "Made it just for me, huh?"

She matched his glare, lifting her chin in a challenge. "Yep!"

Jecht eyed the bracelet. "Think you're pretty clever? Did it take ya a while to cook this one up?"

She preened. "Actually, it did. Lure bracers are a pretty tough bit of synthesis, but I had the right tools on me and you really did push it with the blitzball thing – "

Jecht tossed the bracelet over his shoulder. It fell with a twinkle into the rapid water below the bridge, carrying it away towards the sea.

"Whoops," Jecht said, limping past them. "Butterfingers. Maybe it was all that Flan."

Rikku stared at the waterfall, gaping and making sounds not unlike the Condors that had just been attacking them.

Braska gave her a sympathetic smile. "Well, it was an enlightening conversation. Thank you for that." He trailed after Jecht, sending out another Cure spell.

Auron lifted a finger to snap her mouth shut. "You two are worse than children," he said, amused.

.x.x.x.

Besaid was… underwhelming, to say the least. The arched gate to the "village" protected nothing more than a smattering of simple huts, even fewer than Rikku had seen when Yuna lived there. It was all but abandoned, save for the temple clergy, the very young, and the very old.

She might have called it a ghost town if the tiny collection of huts could even be considered a town.

Braska looked over the village with a hopeful glint in his eye. He turned to Auron and opened his mouth.

"Yes," Auron sighed, preparing the sphere that Rikku pushed into his waiting hands. "I know, for Yuna." He held it up as it buzzed to life.

Jecht strode out into the center of the village and looked around. "Smallest heap o' huts I ever seen," he grumbled, unimpressed.

Braska stood next to him, clearly seeing something the rest of them didn't. "Now, this looks like a fine place to live. Hmm…"

Jecht gave Braska the side-eye and walked away.

Braska continued to study the village before turning back towards the gate. "Auron," he called out, smile forming.

"Uh-oh," she muttered. "I know that tone. Wanna run?"

"Let's see what he wants first," Auron replied in an undertone. "Yes?" he asked Braska.

Braska's smile faltered. "Come now. I am not about to ask you to do something completely unreasonable. Do you not trust me?"

"That's a loaded question. What is it?"

Braska turned back towards the village. "I am serious. When this is over…" He paused. "Could you bring Yuna here?"

Auron straightened in shock. "Here? Besaid? But my lord… there's nothing here."

"Define nothing, Auron," Braska said. "I see a village full of hope, peace and beauty. I see a place where Yuna will be able to grow on her own, protected from the machinations of Bevelle. I see a village where my daughter will not be made an outcast for the color of her eyes." His expression turned pained. "Is it really so difficult to understand? I want her to live a life far away from this conflict."

Auron fell silent. Rikku realized after a moment that he was contemplating Braska's request. All the more, Braska seemed to be waiting for his answer, as if it might have some weight in Yuna's future.

Maybe it does, she thought, surprised. She knew now that Braska and Auron had been a team for far longer than this Pilgrimage; what had happened after Raenn died? She tried to picture it – Braska, freshly cast from the Church and torn with grief, with no means to support his family and no idea of the value of money.

Someone must had gotten them through those six years as outcasts in Bevelle. Someone who also made a trust fund for Yuna and might have just as much of say in her future as Braska did.

Rikku stared at Auron's shoulders. You big liar.

"You have my word," Auron eventually said. "I'll bring her here."

"Thank you, Auron. You're a good friend." Braska's voice was warm with sincerity.

Jecht, oblivious as ever, came stomping back through the moment. "What are you guys doin'?" he complained. "Let's go! I'm so hungry I could eat a shoopuf whole!"

Braska started. "Sorry. Well, let's go then." He nodded one last time at Auron and walked off towards the temple. "Jecht! We don't eat shoopufs any more than we milk them…"

Auron shut the sphere off, still staring into the ground. He was taking it pretty well, all things considered – being ordered by his best friend to uproot his own life in Bevelle to become a surrogate father to a seven-year old in a two-hut village he clearly held little love for.

Rikku touched his shoulder. "I bet Yunie thinks you're a great second dad," she whispered.

"Hnn," Auron grunted, putting the sphere away. "Braska believes that, which is all that matters." He sighed, taking in the village with a bit more interest than before. "I suppose I'd better get to know this place." He paused, counting. "All seven huts of it."

" 'ey!" Jecht's voice carried over from the steps of the temple. "They got puddin' here! C'mon, let's eat!"

Auron winced. "Pudding. Wonderful."

"Rumo credcdelgc! E ys cu vilgat! Brother's kuhhy gemm sa! Ra'mm gemm Auron!" = "Holy shitsticks! I am so fucked! Brother's gonna kill me! He'll kill Auron!"

"Ra'c y tayt syh." = "He's a dead man."

For those of you who've read "Whistle for the Choir", yes, indeed, that is Wakka's beloved pudding.