As we headed close to Bevelle, I asked Yuna if I could visit. Yuna looked confused but nodded. I remembered the way through the city like it was yesterday that I was following Braska to his house. As I approached what was his house, I saw that it was for sale. I contacted the seller immediately and paid for it.
"Yuna, Zaon and Sora, one of you will have this house when you grow up. Until that time, we can use it as a second house. Yuna you are more than welcome to use it as well. Your father loved this house and only sold it so that Yuna would grow up away from the politics here with Yevon. This house will be you threes inheritance from your father." I smiled. Yuna smiled and asked if we wanted to spend the night as it was getting dark. Auron looked at me to open the door. I opened the door to find that it still had all the things it had when I visited with Braska here.
After just a moment, I took off running for the room Braska used. The same bed was untouched there. I carefully sat on the bed, and the scent of him filled my nose. I lay down and grabbed his pillow. I snuggled his pillow and time seemed to stop. I guess I ended up falling asleep because I awoke to being covered by the blanket, still snuggling his pillow.
I climbed out of bed and walked to where Yuna's room used to be. I opened the door to find all three girls had their bedrolls out and were talking. I asked them what they were talking about, and they all turned to me with big smiles. Yuna informed me that she was telling them about the fun times she had here. I smiled back. Braska had been such a loving father to Yuna. If only he had been here to see what wonderful men his sons were becoming. I told them to get some sleep because we were leaving tomorrow, and they promised to.
Braska had told me there were only three bedrooms in the house. Braska's, Yuna's, and a spare bedroom. Yuna and the girls were in her's, and I was in Braska's. So the boys must be in the spare room. And I was betting that Auron was with them. I left Yuna's room and headed for the spare room. As soon as I got close, I could hear the boy's laughter coming from within.
"Why is it that you and your mother always seem to use me for practice?!?" I heard Auron grumble. The door was cracked, and I could see Auron. He was drenched! I guess one more wouldn't hurt, I thought as I wordlessly cast a water spell above him and let it drop. He looked sharply at Sora and asked him to give him a warning next time. Sora was silent for only a minute, then started giggling. He had figured it out! Zaon soon found himself on a receiving end of a water spell next and he looked at Sora, who giggled harder.
By the time I was done, both Auron and Zaon were soaked to the skin and Sora was rolling around the floor, laughing his butt off. Finally, I let out a soft giggle which got Auron's attention. Zaon was mad at Sora, who he thought was responsible for soaking him. But Auron had heard me, and was searching the room.
"Alright Sora! The gig is up! Where is your mother?!?" Auron questioned which only made Sora laugh harder. Auron was searching the room but didn't notice me by the door. When his back was to the door, I quietly snuck up behind him motioning the boys to not say anything. And as soon as he turned around, I hit him in the face with a water spell. Sora cracked up and Zaon started laughing with his brother.
"If the boys are too much you can always join the girls in Yuna's room. If you want to do girly stuff at least." I smiled sweetly at him. He looked pissed and stomped down the stairs. I guess Rikku heard Auron grumbling and followed the sound. I helped the boys clean up the mess and sent them to sleep. As I left the room where the boys were, Rikku tapped me on the shoulder and asked why Auron was so mad at me.
"Things are going to get very serious soon. So while he was helping Sora practice, I jumped in to prank him. I admit I might have gone a bit over the line, but I wanted to see everyone smile and laugh here. And I am sure that Braska was smiling with us." I told her. She them asked if I truly loved Braska, to which I answered. Braska had loved me despite my faults and fears. And I had returned that love. He gave me three treasures that became the most important things in my life. Yuna, Zaon, and Sora. They were the treasures that I must protect that Braska had entrusted me with and if they were not smiling, I wasn't doing a good enough job. I think she understood at that moment. I lived every moment to guard the smiles of those three.
"And secretly, I think Auron likes the pranks. I think he just doesn't want to admit it. It reminds me of my time with Braska, and I hope it does for him as well. While our journey was mostly serious, Jecht and I tried so hard to keep everyone smiling." I smiled.
"I hate to admit it but you pulling these pranks do remind me of that journey. Especially when you first learned that spell. Jecht told you and Braska to get a room, and you two did. I spent the whole night worrying about what that could mean, and then you start with the water spells over my head. I think Braska almost died from holding in his laughter when that happened." Auron's voice came from behind me.