Chapter 9: Besaid

"… so I figure we can set out for Besaid by tonight. I think I can get in touch with Tidus and—" Rikku's chatter died out as she and Auron approached the stairs leading back towards the jungle. Waiting for them on the stone dais below was a lone man in an unmistakable yellow jumpsuit. She stopped, tensing.

"Howdy, Rikku." Cid looked up at them, his eyes lingering on Auron. "Who's your new friend?"

"Hey yourself, Pops," she answered cautiously. "You tell me first. What're you doing here?"

"Can't a man wanna visit his own flesh and blood anymore?" he grumbled, crossing his arms. "I don't get why you and your brother are always giving me all this lip."

She started down the stairs; Auron trailed silently after her. "We wouldn't be giving you 'all this lip' if you wouldn't keep making dumb life decisions."

"There ya go again," he huffed. He did take a long look at her, before gruffly clearing his throat. "Been a while since I last saw you. You look good, kiddo."

"And you look the same as ever," she answered, still wary. "Look, why are you here trying to make nice with me? I thought you threw your chips in with Berrik." Some of her initial surprise was fading back into annoyance. "You just couldn't resist godhood, could you?"

Cid groaned, slapping his forehead. "Berrik told you that, did he? Look, it's not like I believe any of that claptrap—"

"Sure looks like you do from here!" she shot back. "Here being the rest of Spira, Pops!"

Face contorting, Cid whirled on her. "You should show a little gratitude, girl! Berrik is the best thing to happen to us since we unearthed the Fahrenheit. Kids these days, you don't know the value of anything, do ya?"

Auron twitched beside her. "Pray tell. What value is there in burdening Spira with yet another false religion?"

Glaring at Auron, Cid huffed. "Look, you don't gotta take it that seriously. All we're asking you to do is play a part –"

"It's lying, father!" Rikku clenched her fists, vibrating with fury. "Lying to prop ourselves up, just like the Church of Yevon used to! When did you get so greedy?"

Cid snorted, his stance widening into what she recognized as his stubborn machina mode. She noticed his nostrils flaring and blotchy streaks of red climbing up his neck.

Oh boy, this is gonna be messy.

"This isn't greed! This is payback! Why can't you see that?"

"Payback? For what? The destruction of Home?" Rikku scoffed. "You're the one who blew it up!"

Cid's mouth opened and closed, the red spreading across his cheeks in mottled patches. "That wasn't a choice!" His chin trembled as he tried to control himself.

She felt a pang of guilt. It was obvious Cid was still hurting at the loss of Home even a decade after the fact. It wasn't just the Al Bhed's defeat or the loss of life, or even the destruction of the place that he'd personally worked so hard to build. She knew what haunted him more than any of that – it was the loss of his favorite son.

"Berrik isn't Keyakku, Pops. Not by a long shot."

Her words gave him something to latch onto and direct his anger towards. "Why won't you even give him a chance? At least he's doin' something—!"

Whatever sympathy she'd been feeling evaporated at his outraged shout. "So is Gippal!" she yelled. "When did you lose your faith in us? In the Al Bhed spirit?"

Cid turned away from her. "What us? You ran away to Besaid and left the rest of us to rust," he growled, and she flushed because it was true. "Besides, Gippal never treated you right. A man like that ain't worthy of my only daughter."

Auron shifted beside her. She put her hand on his arm to keep him from doing something he'd regret later, working to tamp down on her own burgeoning anger.

"And Berrik is? I'm not some prize chocobo you can raffle off to the highest bidder!"

Cid sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I didn't mean it like that. You don't understand. If you hitch your wagon to Berrik, it'll be smooth sailin' from here on out. Making a new Home won't be a dream anymore! Nobody will ever look down on the Al Bhed again."

Surprisingly, it wasn't fury that overtook her, or even disgust. Instead, Rikku was struck breathless by the dull ache that filled her chest. Beyond the disappointment lay a sadness that she was unable to rationalize away no matter how much her mind tried. Despite how little they understood one another, Cid was still her father. Overwhelmed, she couldn't bring herself to stop Auron's sharp retort.

"Yes. You and Berrik will make sure of that, won't you? By force if necessary."

Cid scowled at Auron. "If you wanna make an omelet, sometimes you gotta break a few eggs. And those 'eggs' broke our nest first anyhow. Karma's a bitch, ain't it?"

His eye narrowed. "Pig-headed fool. You're destroying more than just your own family with your choices. You already lost Raenn once before. Now you want to sacrifice your own daughter for that ego, too?"

Jowl quivering, Cid pointed at Auron, jabbing his finger into the other man's chest repeatedly. "Don't you talk like you know anything, boy! Where do you get the nerve, mouthin' off about me and my kin?"

"I know Rikku better than you ever have." Auron's voice was deceptively emotionless.

Unable to discern the slow boil beneath Auron's reticence, Cid went apoplectic with outrage. "Rikku! Are you tellin' me you chose this asshole over a good man like Berrik? What the hell are you doin' with your life? You could be with us, making something great! Putting the Al Bhed back on Spira's map! Giving us our rightful place in history! Instead, you're wastin' time with this good for nothing punk—"

Something snapped inside of her. "No," she growled, slapping his hand away from Auron's chest. "You don't get to talk about him like that! You're the one who doesn't know anything!"

Cid turned on her, eyes flashing. "Why? You think you're in love again?" he sneered. "You should know better than anyone that it ain't real. Weren't you in love with Gippal first? And then you had that fool's crush on Auron, too." He barked out a sharp, cynical laugh. "Look how well all that love worked out for you in the end. You gotta stop chasing after pipe dreams and settle for a good dose of reality, kiddo. Nobody gets a happy ending in Spira unless they write it for themselves. Berrik and I are just tryin' to hand you the script."

"That's not for you to decide," Auron cut in brusquely, his eye tightening. "Only Rikku can choose how she wants her story to end. Step back." He didn't need to add the 'or I'll make you' that hung in the air between them.

Rikku caught herself staring at Auron. What Cid was saying was infuriating, naturally, but Auron's impassioned defense caught her off guard. She didn't expect him of all people to argue against Cid's brand of romantic nihilism.

"Boy, you better shut that mouth of yours before I smack the fresh right outta you," Cid warned, glaring daggers at Auron. "Tell me your name so they know what to put on your gravestone."

And then, to her shock, Auron reached up and ripped the headband away from his scarred eye. He took a step closer to Cid and leaned over him, his gaze dangerous. "You already know my name."

Time seemed to slow to a standstill as the color drained out of Cid's face. He took one shaky step back, and then another. "Auron?!"

Rikku finally managed to find her voice again. "What are you doing?" she squeaked.

"Something I should have from the start," Auron growled, pinning Cid under his glare. "For a moment, I really believed you'd changed. But I was mistaken. You're still the same small-minded bigot as before."

Belatedly, Rikku realized that Auron had already known Cid even before she was born. That he'd been sent with Braska to assassinate him. There was no way her father wouldn't have recognized Auron's face, no matter how young he looked.

"I was too inexperienced to stop you when you ruined Braska's life. I won't stand by idly while you try to do the same to Rikku." His eye narrowed. "You're lucky you're her father. But my generosity only extends so far. Keep talking if you want to test it."

Cid took another step back, stumbling over his own feet and falling to the ground. Even then, he didn't stop trying to put distance between himself and Auron. "You… you should be dead!" He turned and looked at Rikku, his green eyes wide with shock and fear. "This happened when you fell into the Farplane, didn't it?" He focused on Auron again. "You didn't come back alone."

"It's not a fool's crush."

Cid finally tore his eyes away from Auron to look at her. "What?"

She clenched her hands into fists. "We're in love." She moved closer to Auron's side, leaning against him. He reached out and clasped her hand in his own.

Cid stared at them for a long moment, before dropping his head into his hands. "Oh, baby. This is my fault, ain't it. Leavin' you alone for so long." A sob escaped him. "How'd it come to this? You know that ain't the real Auron. He's dead, and you're in love with that… thing." He struggled to his feet slowly. "Rikku, can't you see? He's just a shadow."

His words ended in a gurgle as Auron reached out and grabbed the collar of Cid's jumpsuit with his free hand. He hefted the other man into the air with ease, letting Cid's feet dangle over the ground. "Then maybe it's time you learned to fear the darkness."

Something in Auron's voice sent a thread of apprehension through her. "Auron," she warned, but he ignored her even when she squeezed his hand tightly. His face was twisted into an ugly grimace, hinting at a deeper-running darkness within him. With a flash, she recognized it: the same fiendish energy that had leaked from him when he lost control in the Farplane. She reached out and wrapped her hand around his other wrist, the one holding Cid aloft. "Auron, put him down."

For several tense moments, he didn't move. Then, slowly, he lowered Cid to the ground, turning to face her. "Are you sure?"

She tightened her grip. "Let him go. Let this go for your sake. I need to talk to my father anyway, so don't waste your energy on this." Please, listen. She looked into his eye, hoping he'd understand.

He released Cid with a grunt, stepping back, and she relaxed minutely. There was still one large problem to deal with, though. He was currently doubled over, coughing and clutching his throat where Auron had grabbed him.

"Don't you dare judge me," she told Cid, putting herself between him and Auron. "You weren't there!" She winced; the tears in her father's eyes were genuine, even if the sentiment fueling them made her recoil. If she was being honest with herself, his reaction was understandable – the Unsent were even more universally reviled than the Al Bhed had ever been, and Auron had just nearly proven why.

But Auron had made his entire un-life out of breaking the rules, and she wasn't exactly normal anymore either.

"Rikku," Cid wheezed. "I am your father! You can't ask me to ignore this. Despite everything you think about me, I only want what's best for you. You're gonna get hurt if you keep on like this! Come with me. Come home."

She shook her head, feeling her own eyes start to burn from unshed tears. "You might be my father… but Keyakku and Brother are the only ones who've ever really been my family. You don't get to start caring now, when it's convenient for you."

Cid flinched when she said Keyakku's name aloud. And then his face darkened. "Don't bring your brothers into this!"

"Brothers? Or Brother? And why shouldn't I? You're the one who did it first!"

Whatever Cid had been about to shout fell away into surprise. "Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"

That burning sensation was back, spreading down to her chest. She pushed it away, unwilling to cry in front of Cid. "He's not an idiot! You think he doesn't know what you're really doing? Using Berrik as a replacement for Keyakku? You're the one who's stuck in the past, chasing after ghosts!"

Cid's mouth flapped a few times. He threw his arms up, shaking his head. "Look, I gave Brother a chance! I was even foolish enough to believe he'd stick around. But you know what that ungrateful punk did? He ran! Ran away from his responsibilities, just like he always has!"

Anger overtook her; it was easier to find her words when Cid was badmouthing the people she loved, rather than herself directly. "Brother's always tried to be what you wanted him to be!" She grit her teeth. "He even let Berrik take him and put the rest of the Gullwings in danger just to make you happy. But you couldn't even give him that, could you?" The hot, angry tears welled up and spilled over, despite her best attempts to keep them at bay. "Nothing he does will ever be good enough for you."

Cid crossed his arms, turning away from her tears. "That's because your brother is my life's greatest disappointment. Even you managed to make somethin' of yourself." He glanced over her shoulder at Auron. "Whether or not I agree with what you done don't change that you did it. But what's your brother got to show after all this time? A fancy airship and a handful of blitzball contracts in Luca! How's a bum like that supposed to become the leader of our people?"

"He never wanted to be the leader of our people, you old geezer!" she exploded. "The only thing he ever wanted to be was your son!"

Cid scowled. "What're you talkin' about? He's always been my son. We're blood, we can't change that. Much as we might want to."

She shook her head, her anger draining away into tired resignation. "You're the one who's deluding yourself. Brother's a better person than you'll ever be. I only hope he sees that one day, and can let you go. The way I am." It was the lack of passion in her voice that finally made Cid face her.

"You really believe that, don't you?"

"Yeah." The smile she managed for him was worn. "I know I'm probably not the one who should be saying this, but… some things you can't bring back. Not Keyakku, not Home, and definitely not the idea that our family was ever great."

Cid watched her, looking more and more like a lost and confused old man with each word. She pressed on, knowing that if he didn't hear the truth from her, he'd likely never hear it at all ever again.

"Al Bhed are great because we're hard workers. Because we stuck together, even when the rest of the world was against us." She thought about how it cut both ways, how that fierce loyalty had burned her during Braska and Yuna's Pilgrimages. "Most of all, we're honest with ourselves. We're not perfect, but we keep on trying. And when we make mistakes, we fix them. That's why the people love Gippal now. Because he's just as human as the rest of us. He's not some deity leading us into a future we didn't make for ourselves. You can't replace that with a fantasy. You and Berrik are robbing us of the one thing that makes us who we are."

She let out a long breath. "I won't be a part of your lie. And if you had any integrity left, you wouldn't let yourself be, either."

"Rikku…" Cid reached for her, and she stepped away from his outstretched arm. "I just want what's best for our people."

"Are you sure? Or do you want what's best for your pride?" She took another step back, bumping against Auron's solid, comforting presence. "You should stop this. Leave Berrik's faction. Sometimes you gotta let go of the past to make way for the future."

Cid dropped his hand and turned away, his shoulders drooping. When he spoke, he was nearly inaudible. "I can't stop, Rikku. What do I got left if I stop now?"

"You'd have us," she answered, just as quietly. But he didn't turn around, and the last flicker of hope in her heart sputtered out.

Auron's hands landed on her shoulders, grounding her. "Keep telling yourself that your castle of sand was worth it," he said to Cid. Then he tugged her gently, pulling her away.

Turning, she peered at his face; he'd lost all traces of the inhuman anger that had overtaken him, and instead was watching her just as closely, obviously concerned.

"Let's go. There's nothing left for you here."

"Yeah." Exhaustion overtook her; she felt as tired as when she'd climbed the Iutycr Tower, and just as emotionally wrung out. Even with Auron shepherding her down the steps, she couldn't help but look back over her shoulder.

Cid still stood with his back to her, staring out over the jungle as though he were one of the statues lining the path.

"Goodbye, Pops."

.x.x.x.

They didn't bother returning to Kilika; between the time spent in the Temple and the confrontation with Cid, nightfall was fast approaching. Sensing her melancholy, Auron didn't press her to conversation and she was grateful for it. Cutting her ties with Cid felt like giving herself a raw, gaping wound; she didn't even want to think about what he might do with the knowledge that Auron had returned. Focusing on Yuna's safety was a welcome distraction from her own dysfunctional family dynamics, so they set out for Besaid as soon as the cover of night could mask their journey.

Her uneasiness remained the closer they drew to Besaid; her scans showed that the Pollendina was nowhere near the coastline, but she couldn't bring herself to believe Berrik would give up so easily just because she'd asked him nicely.

They landed on an abandoned beach on the far side of the island well before the sun rose; as she shed Eden's form, she wasn't surprised to see Tidus waiting for them.

"I had a feeling," he said before she could greet him. His attention was fully on Auron, who hadn't bothered to re-don his headdress. He crossed his arms, his tone guarded. "Auron."

Auron stopped a few paces away from Tidus. "Tidus." He spent a moment taking in the blond's older, more rugged appearance. "You've done well."

The tension between the two dropped abruptly as Tidus put his hands on his hips and shook his head in disbelief, barking out a laugh. "This is freaking me out. You look like you're the same age as me now!"

Rikku joined Auron at his side, giggling and bumping him with her shoulder. "Relax. Tidus still loves you too," she whispered to him. Something caught in her throat as she thought of her own father, but she shoved her feelings away, facing Tidus instead. "To be fair, you're still younger than him. Isn't your real body stuck at 17? Even I'm older than you now."

"Ugh, don't try to bend my mind around the concept of aging," he complained. "It's hard enough trying to figure out what I should look like every year." He looked at Auron again, noticing how stiffly the other was holding himself. "Hey, lighten up man. I missed you." It was the only warning he gave before he threw himself into a hug with Auron, who staggered back in surprise.

It took a few moments before Auron's arms came up to return the gesture. "You really are Jecht's son," he said fondly.

Tidus pushed him off, swiping at his eyes while sniffling. "Look, if you're just gonna insult me –"

"It's a compliment. I missed you as well."

Tidus's smile hitched. "All right. What's with all this touchy feely stuff? It's not like you."

Auron glanced at Rikku, then back at Tidus. "You could say… I was reminded recently. Of how important family is." Reaching up, he ruffled Tidus's hair. "I should have told you sooner. I'm proud of you."

Tidus gaped dazedly, before he turned away. He paced along the beach with his hands on his head, conspicuously not facing them.

"Aww, Auron! You made him cry!"

That got Tidus to whirl around. "I'm not crying! I got some sand in my eye!" The runny nose that he swiped at as he spoke gave him away, and Auron chuckled.

"Right. Get ahold of yourself. We need to speak to Yuna." He paused. "But do we have a plan?" He looked down at himself, distinctly uncomfortable.

"I think we just go for it," Rikku said. "I've been keeping so much to myself all this time. I think I don't want to lie to my family anymore. Not about you, at least." The words surprised her as they came out of her mouth; she hadn't realized she was going to say them.

Neither had Tidus, apparently. "You think of us as your family?" His smile was growing wider by the second; she'd forgotten how much Tidus longed for one after losing both of his parents. "Even Lulu and Wakka?"

Blushing, she nodded shyly. "Yeah. I guess I never really said it before, but everyone here – and even Kimahri! – is just as much my family as Brother is."

And they're more family to me than Cid ever was. Thinking it still hurt, but realizing she could choose to belong somewhere else eased the sting in her chest.

"Right on!" Tidus cheered, running towards them and scooping both her and Auron into another exuberant hug. Auron grunted in protest and Tidus released them quickly. But not without his typical brand of running commentary.

"So, like… does that mean my cousin is dating my dad?"

Auron glared. "Hmph. Don't listen to him," he grumbled to Rikku. "He was hit in the head once too often with a blitzball as a child."

Tidus sulked. "Hey! I was training! And I'm right, aren't I? Any way I look at it, you guys being together is weird!"

Rikku crossed her arms and sniffed. "That's rich, coming from someone who was literally born in the ocean less than ten years ago. That makes Yunie twenty years older than you!" She smirked and hit him in the ribs with her elbow. "I guess it runs in the family, huh?"

Auron ignored them, moving towards the jungle. "If you two are done competing for the most scandalous age gap, I would like to see my surrogate daughter now."

Trading a look with Tidus, Rikku rolled her eyes and giggled.

"Spoilsport," Tidus muttered under his breath.

"Not so old that I didn't hear that," Auron shot back without looking over his shoulder.

Rikku trailed after them both, a grin on her face. "Hey," she called out to Auron. "You do realize Yunie is older than you are now, right?"

Auron didn't bother answering her, though she savored the way he tripped and stumbled at her words. Tidus started laughing.

It's good to be home.

.x.x.x.

Lulu's eye twitched as she stared at Auron. Rikku wasn't sure how she managed it, but somehow she looked fiercely intimidating even though she was holding Chappu in her arms. Actually, it wasn't much different from when she was holding her voodoo dolls. For a moment Rikku had a wild mental image of Lulu putting baby Chappu down and having the boy crawl towards Auron to slap him in the shin, instantly petrifying him.

Standing in the middle of Wakka and Lulu's hut, Auron was doing a pretty good job of being petrified even without the extra help.

"Sooo," Tidus began, laughing nervously. "Rikku's back, and she brought an old friend. We thought it'd be better to tell you guys first before we visited Yuna."

"For a Sending?" Lulu asked delicately, and Rikku noticed Auron's nearly imperceptible wince.

"No, not for a Sending," she cut in. "Aaron's been traveling with me ever since Guadosalam. He's not going anywhere without me." She crossed her arms and tried to copy Lulu's dangerous aura. Her eyes were watering from not blinking enough, though.

"Yo, is this some kinda joke?" Wakka scratched his head. "You sure you aren't Auron's long lost nephew or somethin'?"

That got Auron to move. He turned his head, squinting at Wakka. "Of course. We don't just share our looks, but also our injuries. It's uncanny." The sarcasm in his voice could have curdled milk.

"Oh geez, that's Auron alright." Wakka cringed. "Rikku, explain it to me so I can understand. How'd Auron get back here? An' why's he look like that?"

"Eh heh-heh," Rikku said, fidgeting. I really should have come up with a plan instead of just winging it. "See, the thing is…" She opened and closed her mouth several times, considering where to start.

Unfortunately, Lulu and even Wakka were displaying unusual patience, willing to wait while they stared at Auron in disbelief. Chappu's happy gurgles filled the otherwise-silent hut.

Auron finally broke the stalemate with a sigh. "I was twenty-six years old at the end of Braska's Pilgrimage. Rikku convinced me to return to Spira. With the destruction of the Church of Yevon, my guilt has been assuaged enough to return to a state closer to my actual age at the time of my death."

"So you really came back even after being Sent," Lulu said, her tone clipped.

"Wow. So that means you're still dead, ya?" Wakka always was a step behind.

Drooping, Rikku nodded at him. "Well, you know that year I spent on the Farplane?" She scratched her cheek. "So I don't really have amnesia about it. I was kind of, um… hanging out there. With Auron. And his friends."

"There're more of them?!" Wakka yelled. He hunched his shoulders, wilting under Lulu's death glare when Chappu hiccupped and let out an unhappy shriek at the noise.

"I presume you mean Sir Jecht. And Lord Braska, too?" Lulu's eyebrow rose even higher at Rikku's hesitant bob of assent. She then turned her glare onto Tidus, who jerked to attention. "So this is why you two were thick as thieves all this time." She let Tidus sweat for a few moments, before turning the full force of her regard onto Rikku. "Tell me, how many Unsent did you bring back with you?"

"Technically? Only one," Rikku hedged.

"Technically! One's more than enough, ya?!" Wakka shout-whispered. "No offense, Auron."

"None taken," Auron muttered, obviously offended.

"Don't tell me you brought back Sir Jecht and Lord Braska, too?" Lulu asked, watching Rikku's face.

"Yeah, about that…" She laughed nervously. "So you know all that weirdness going on in Macalania?"

"No. Don't tell me. I don't think I wanna know," Wakka groaned, slapping a hand over his forehead. He looked down at his wife. "Lu?"

"I'm not sure," she murmured. "Rikku… you must know what you're doing is dangerous. But…" Her eyes flicked back to Auron. "It really is you, isn't it, Auron?"

He inclined his head minutely. "Yes. I hope you will trust me when I say I mean you no harm. I came here at Rikku's request, and have no intentions of hurting anyone."

That seemed to take both Wakka and Lulu by surprise.

"What?" he asked, looking bemused by their reactions.

"We never meant to imply that we thought you might attack someone in Besaid," Lulu said, her glare finally softening.

"You're Sir Auron, ya? We all know you're a good man, brudda! We've seen it for ourselves already!" Wakka grinned, punching Auron in the shoulder. Apparently, looking older than Auron did a lot for his confidence. Or, Rikku thought to herself, maybe it was just because Wakka was a father now. He'd managed to find depths within himself that no-one had believed possible before. "Naw, you don't got nothin' to prove to the rest of us."

Lulu sighed and smiled at Auron. "Wakka's right. Apart from that, Rikku and Tidus are vouching for you now. Personally, I'm more concerned about your permanence in our lives. Rikku has been a bit… lost, of late." She looked at Rikku pointedly. "It's not us I worry about you hurting."

"Believe me. I share your concerns," Auron admitted readily. "Rikku can be very insistent."

Lulu tilted her head. "From looks alone, you two make a handsome pair. But the truth is that you're much older than her, Auron. And Rikku has been infatuated with you since she was fifteen." Chappu sputtered and grabbed at one of her braids, and Lulu rocked the baby in her arms, taking a moment to shush him. When she looked back up, her gentle smile faded. "You were a hero, a guide and a mentor to all of us during Yuna's Pilgrimage. You used that authority to realize your own selfish goals. Fortunately for you, those goals ended up saving Yuna's life."

Her tone turned frosty. "I'm not unaware of the way you manipulated us back then. You're no longer our guide, nor our mentor. Don't make the mistake of trying to fill that role for Rikku." Her soft, raspy voice was at odds with the intensity of the threat she laced through her words. "Step very carefully, Auron. She's trusting you with her heart. Even the best of your intentions can pave the road to Rikku's personal hell. If you break her, you'll do more than just regret your return. I'll make you redefine the meaning of that word."

Auron met Lulu's gaze squarely, and the tension in the hut ratcheted skywards as they faced off. Nobody moved. The bead of sweat forming on Rikku's forehead itched intensely. Finally Auron blinked first, dropping his head into a minute nod of acknowledgement. "I understand."

"Woah," Tidus whispered loudly into the ensuing silence, breaking the spell. "Brutal."

Lulu rolled her eyes and returned to fussing over Chappu while Wakka beamed from ear to ear, proud as could be. "That's my wife, ya? I can't believe you just did a number on Sir Auron, Lu."

"Please. I only said what he needed to hear. Besides, I'm used to dealing with unruly boys." She flicked her eyes towards Rikku. "I'll talk to you later."

Rikku swallowed. "Yeah, so maybe we should see Yunie now!"

"Put that ridiculous disguise back on him first," Lulu said. "This is a very small village. There's no need to make a spectacle of yourselves just yet."

Auron was already re-wrapping his eye, pointedly not looking at any of them.

Wakka, unable to read Auron's mood, blithely interrupted him. "I gotta go find Dina. Don't tell him who you really are, okay? I raised my boy on all sorts of stories about you. I mean, the older you. Or, uh, the younger you too? Sheesh, this is all so confusing."

"My lips are sealed," Auron said drily.

"Great! Good to have you back," Wakka said, clapping Auron on the shoulder. "You too, Rikku. Welcome home!"

Lulu's fierce defense and Wakka's easy acceptance washed away the last of her reservations about returning to Besaid. They really are my family, she thought, waving to Wakka as he exited the hut.

"So… you guys ready?" Tidus asked.

Taking a deep breath, Rikku nodded. Putting themselves in front of Lulu had been nerve-wracking. The apprehension she felt at meeting Yuna, however, was entirely different. Her stomach fluttered as Tidus led them to the hut he shared with Yuna. He pushed the curtain back and beckoned them both inside.

Ducking in, Rikku let her eyes wander over Yuna's home. It hadn't changed much since the last time she'd seen it – colorful cloths and tapestries decorated the walls. In one corner, hanging on a banner, was the symbol of Yevon. Despite everything that had happened, Yuna still wasn't willing to dispose of it. "I can't let it go. He's the reason I'm here today," was all she would say whenever Rikku tried to convince her to tear it down. Auron spotted the symbol immediately, his mouth twitching into a frown.

Yuna was seated at a low table in the center of the room. She looked up when they came in, her smile reserved. "Hello Rikku," she said quietly. Her eyes flitted first over Auron, and then lingered on Tidus, who was suspiciously silent.

"Yuna," he said after a moment, moving to her side and seating himself. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, looking at Auron again. "Rikku. Sir Auron. Please, have a seat."

Rikku joined them at the table almost immediately. Auron shifted uncomfortably, then settled down beside her.

"You knew?" he asked.

Yuna nodded hesitantly. "Rikku told me about her adventures in the Farplane. I have a sphere from back then. I recognized you right away." She clasped her hands together too tightly, her fingers digging into her skin. "You shouldn't have come back. But even though I know it… even though I'm thinking it, I'm still glad you're here." Her voice quavered, echoing a similar pain Rikku had felt so long ago. "It wasn't fair, the way you left us. You made me Send you. You never even said anything. You just… left." She ducked her head. "At least my father told me goodbye."

Auron's eye crinkled in pain. "Yuna." He reached out and gently separated her hands. "Forgive me. I was tired. It made me cruel."

She hiccupped a laugh. "At least I know where Tidus got it from." Wiping at the corner of her eyes, she looked up and smiled at Auron. "Thank you. For everything you did for us back then. I know it must have been hard."

Auron's hand tightened around Yuna's. "Don't thank me for what I did." His voice was pained. "I used you. All of you."

"You forced us to open our eyes," Yuna corrected, some of the resolve returning to her voice. "No one else could have done what you did. So yes, my thanks are in order. You didn't just save me from a Summoner's fate… you freed Spira from Sin's cycle. You said this world was ours now. But you know… I think it's really yours, because you helped us make it."

Auron looked down, his eye fluttering shut.

Rikku watched, the warm fuzzy feeling from seeing them reconnect soothing just a little more of her own pain. She thought about what she might have wanted most from Cid, and cracked a watery smile. "Just hug each other already," she complained.

Yuna threw herself into Auron's arms, laughing through her tears, and Tidus shared a knowing look with Rikku. "Rikku, why don't you help me outside for a minute?" he asked, getting up and edging towards the door.

She popped to her feet and followed him, smirking. "Sure, Tidus, since it looks like you really need some help with those paper-thin excuses." Turning, she winked at Auron. "Take your time," she said softly. "I'll just be at the Temple for now." Noting Auron's quizzical look, she waved him down. "I need to check out something there."

Exiting the hut, she strolled with Tidus down the dirt path, smiling and waving at the residents who spotted her and called out their greetings.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," Tidus admitted.

"I know, right? I half-expected Lulu to start trancing the minute she saw Auron."

Tidus threw his hands over his head and grinned smugly. "That's why I told Wakka to make sure she was holding Chappu before we came in. Babies really mellow Lulu out."

"That was mellow?" she laughed, stopping at the steps leading up to the Temple of Wind.

"Why do you wanna visit the Temple anyhow?" Tidus scratched his head. "There's nothing there anymore. What's up?"

Looking around to make sure no one was listening in, Rikku leaned forward. "It's about the gate to the Farplane. Did Isaaru ever stop by here?"

Frowning, Tidus ushered her up the steps. "Yeah, a few years back. That was before you settled in. He said he was inspecting it so he could name it a cultural heritage site. That's why the lower levels are sealed off, actually. I guess he was successful."

Rikku nodded. "He was trying to stop up the holes that were left behind after all those dark aeons got summoned to fight us. I think I can finish what he started."

They entered the antechamber, the noticeably cooler air a soothing contrast to the tropical midday heat outside. Rikku fell silent, smiling and waving at the various residents taking advantage of the temperature to lounge around the temple. She paused for a moment to look up at Braska's statue before pushing on.

They walked up the steps leading to the Trials without incident; Besaid was a small community, and both of them had been part of it for years. Once inside, though, Tidus dropped his relaxed smile and faced her. "What do you mean, anyway? Is there something wrong down there?"

"Not really." She reached for the wall that masked the 'hidden' staircase leading to the trial behind it. Closing her eyes, she felt the weave of Isaaru's magic keeping it shut and began to thread her way through it.

Tidus crossed his arms and watched her. "Wow," he said after a few moments. "I'd just break it. It'd be so much easier than whatever it is you're doing." He reached out a hand and touched the wall, squinting. "Kinda feels like you're picking a lock or something."

Rikku hummed noncommittally, still feeling her way through the wards. "I don't want to just break it, though. Isaaru put it here for a reason. Oh, there we go." Stepping back, she put her hand on the wall, which rumbled up to reveal the passage below. A blast of musty air hit them and Tidus coughed, waving his hand before his face.

"Riiight. Well, you do you I guess. Is whatever you're getting up to down there dangerous?"

Passing through the barrier, she grinned and waved Tidus off. "Not really. I'm just strengthening the seal Isaaru made over the hole where Valefor used to be. Less pyreflies, less fiends, right?"

"Huh." Tidus gave her a slow nod. "If you say so. I can't do that, though. I thought making magic seals was a summoner thing, not an aeon thing."

Rikku punched the control for the wall on the other side of the Cloister. As it slid closed, she grinned at him. "It is. Let Auron know I'll be out in a few hours, okay?"

"Hours?!" she heard Tidus yell before the wall cut him off.

Turning, she called a flame into her palm, driving away the pitch black of the magically inert Cloister. "I hope I'm right about this, Braska," she mumbled, making her way down the steps and towards the Chamber of Fayth.

A/N: This chapter was originally going to be longer, but I split it into two because it was getting quite lengthy, and also because I wanted to be able to separate chapter content by rating. I just didn't want these family-centric scenes to end up under a mature warning header.

Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far. Each one really helps feed my font of inspiration for this story, so give yourselves a pat on the back if you feel like I'm updating more quickly than before. That's all you!