"The Guado have fled because of what Seymour did. And because of them leaving, the farplane has become unstable. Only they would know how to fix it." I told Yuna and the boys who looked towards the entrance to the Farplane, with tears in their eyes. I knew the boys wanted to see their father again, and Yuna was scared Tidus would be there. I dragged the to the inn were only two rooms were available. I got both for a night and we split up girls vs boys. Auron walked in to keep the boys in line for the night, while I kept the girls company. when we were in our rooms for the night, Rikku asked me the strangest question.
"Is Auron single?" This question sent Yuna and Paine into giggles, and me into shock. I mean, as far as I knew he was single. And I told her that, and if she wanted to know more she would have to ask him. That shut her up. So Rikku was interested in Auron. That was new, but she was getting to that age where she would be looking at guys. When I finally got the girls asleep, I walked over to the boys room and tapped on the door lightly.
"Rikku, I swear if that is you and you get caught...oh hi Rose..." He answered the door, and then noticed it was me. I asked him why he would think it was Rikku, and he blushed a deep red and told me that she had been trying to visit him late at night. Then he asked why I was there.
"Well, Rikku asked me if you were single." As soon as I told him, he swore quietly. That made me smile, I told him that if he hurt her I would make his days hell. And after all the times he heard that word, he knew it was bad. He nodded and said he needed to think. That is when I told him that Rikku might be what he needed, and left.
I slept fitfully through the night, and when dawn broke I got up and headed outside. I sat at the entrance to the Thunder Plains, and didn't notice Auron come and sit beside me. We sat there not saying a word for at least an hour. I was thinking about how Auron's devotion to protecting us came at the price of his own happiness. And that got me thinking about how his help with the boys was invaluable. And how he was the last adult link to those times. He alone knew what we had gone through...and how much it hurt. He was the last man from our journey left, and I kinda didn't want to let that go yet.
"I will stay with you three a little longer. Until I am sure you no longer need me." Auron told me after that hour had passed. And I nodded. I knew it was almost time to free him from his promise, and only I could do it. Another hour passed in silence, until Yuna and everyone found us. Rikku looked worried, but when I stood up I thanked Auron for guarding me. Then I went over to Rikku.
"Auron has been my best friend since Braska's time. He is like an over protective brother to me. And he believes that by staying close, he is keeping a promise to my late husband." I told her and she slowly nodded in understanding. I had no interest in Auron than more of a brother or uncle to my sons. But what I said visibly relaxed Rikku, for which I was glad.
The boys for some reason liked the Thunder Plains, and they were happy to be here. I told them to find all the hidden treasures they could find and told them that we would meet them in two hours at the entrance to Macalania Woods. They were thrilled, and Auron questioned me with a glance.
"They are stong and twelve years old. If I hold too tightly, they will rebel against me. So I have to let them fly from time to time, or they will begin to hate me." I answered him while watching my boys run into the Plains. I also had planted something I asked Shinra to make on them. Basically trackers. If they stayed still too long it would alert me that they could be in trouble. Each boy had it on their weapons, so I would know since they loved them. The rest of us followed them, taking our time. Sometimes the boys would appear loaded down with stuff that they would pass to us, then they would head back out. It only took us twenty minutes to make it to the travel agency, so we stopped. Auron reminded us how creepy Rikku was the first time she came through the Plains during Yuna's journey, and Paine couldn't stop laughing. Yuna looked distant when we talked about the past, so I nudged Auron. He took one look and shut up.
When we started again, both boys ambushed us. They scared the shit out of Yuna and the girls, but Auron and I knew better. This was something they would do. After they nearly gave the girls a heart attack, they took off laughing.
"I am going to kill those two!" Rikku exclaimed and Paine seconded that feeling. Yuna just shook her head when she had calmed down from the scare. We continued on, Rikku looking for the perfect opportunity to get them back. After that, we made it to Macalania Woods with no other problems. The boys were already there waiting for us.
"What took you so long, slowpokes?" Zoan chuckled and Sora nodded. Rikku went to get them but they were too quick. Laughing, they headed into the woods. I told them that I wanted to see what happened to the temple, since I heard that it was now underwater. Yuna was cool with it, so away we went. The boys wanted to go straight to Bevelle, but I told them I had a good reason to go see the temple first. O'aka needed bailed out, and I wanted to help him. So we took the shortcut. When we got to the travel agency, the Al Bhed were looking for him. I turned around to see him, and told the boys to follow him. They did, defeating fiends along the way. When we had finally cornered him across from the spring where Yuna and Tidus had truly had fallen for each other, I asked if he wanted to board the airship. He was so glad, and I started by taking all his potions for gil. He ran to board the airship and that was fine with Yuna.
That done, it was time to head to Bevelle.