Notes: heehee thanks everyone for continuing to read this fanfic after such a long break.

I have received a couple of comments whether or not I’m going into the yaoi direction with characters. Well that’s all gonna be solved in this chapter. I know I went ooc with the characters a little but you know everyone has their moments when they act…different. On to the ficcy!

Chapter 15

Best Friends

In the morning Braska woke to a wonderful sight. Auron and Rikku sleeping next to each other happily. Braska smiled at this sight, and then looked over to Jecht. ‘I shouldn’t feel this way." Braska thought. He decided to wake the others and get started early this morning. He first woke up Jecht, which took a while to do, and then reluctantly woke up the couple on the other side of the firepit. Braska helped everyone get ready and when they were, he spoke.

"Djose is a fairly short trip from here, and the fiends are not as violent however we need to beware of the Basilisks as they are pretty violent. There is an Inn close to the temple and we should probably stay there afterwards. It is very dangerous to travel on Mushroom Rock and the Mi’ihen highroad at night. I know that you don’t want to be near the temples Rikku, but it will be alright as we will make sure nothing happens to you." Braska explained.

"Don’t worry about me Braska. I’ll be alright." Rikku grabbed onto Auron’s arm. He shook it off.

"Whaaaaaaaaat?" Rikku started to cry.

"Rikku, it will be hard to travel if you hold onto my arm all the way to Djose. Besides, it will look kind of silly if two guardians are looking like lovebirds." Auron kissed her on the cheek then he whispered into her ear "I’m sorry Rikku, but remember that our duty as guardians have to come first right now." He felt Rikku nod slowly.

"Let’s get going Braska! We’ll get that aeon faster than anyone else!" Rikku smiled to everyone and started down the path.

"Then we can have some fun tonight Braska!" Jecht followed Rikku. Braska looked into his direction sadly.

"Lord Braska are you alright?" Auron looked at Braska’s sad look.

"Yeah, I was thinking…"

"Lord Braska?"

"Its nothing Auron. Everything will be fine. We should go before we lose them." Braska smiled to Auron and the two left.

The path to the Djose temple had indeed been quite a boring travel. While there were some fiends, most of them were sleeping in the day. While the group took this sign as good luck, they had wished there was some sort of excitement. They took a break halfway among a grove of trees. Rikku searched around to find what kind of wild fruits were growing in the area. Auron decided to keep watch incase anything were to happen.

"I think I’ll try to find some fresh water." Braska told Auron.

"Maybe Jecht should come with you."

"I’ll be fine for a few minutes Auron." Braska turned around in the opposite direction. He looked at Jecht and left.

"Should I go even though he said not to Auron?" Jecht asked.

"I’m not sure Jecht. It seems like he wants to be alone."

"But what if something happens? We can’t let him get hurt." Jecht started off but Auron grabbed onto his shoulder.

"Lord Braska can take care of himself. Sometimes he wants to be by himself. He is indeed a kindred spirit. To me, he is the strongest person I know. When his wife died, while looking sad he was able to move on. I don’t know I could do the same. While the most emotional in ways, he is even more private than I am. Through that smile is a world of sadness. Through his laughter is tears." Auron explained and let go of his arm.

"Have you ever tried to talk to him?"

"He says his pain will be gone once he brings the next calm."

"His pain gone? Of course it will be! Because he will be dead! Then he won’t be hurt anymore!" Jecht yelled.

"Jecht, calm down. Lord Braska will always be sad. While in the farplane he will be with his wife again but realize that he is losing his daughter as well. He is doing this so she has a future Jecht. I know it hurts to think about it. None of us want to lose him." Auron smiled at him. "It’s because of us he keeps from going crazy with anger and sadness. You, Rikku and I bring him happiness now. He can’t be with his daughter and his wife but he has us."

"I see." Jecht sat down on the grass next to a tree.

"Jecht, I have something else to say." Auron, realizing they were out of fears way for a while sat down as well. "I know I’ve been harsh towards you. I know at first I didn’t trust you, nor like you very much. I want to thank you for yesterday though. Also, to me you’re a good friend as well. I wouldn’t change things if I had another chance to do them."

"Gee Auron, thanks…" Jecht rubbed his head. "Even though you’re a hard ass to me you’ve been a good friend too. Thanks." Jecht held out his hand. Auron shook it and smiled.

Braska found a lake not too far from the others. He filled up his water bottle and put it back into his pack. He took off his shoes and sat down on the grass, putting his feet into the water to wash them. He laid back and closed his eyes.

"My wife…I wish you could help me. I am not sure what I should do. Keep another secret or risk a good friendship with Jecht. But…what do I say? I’m not even sure what I feel myself. Soon though, soon and I will see you again. I want, I want to be with you again. However I have these feelings that I can’t shake for Jecht. What's wrong with me? With another man no less. What a lovely thing if everyone were to find out I harbored feelings like this for another man." Braska closed his eyes. He reopened them, gathered his things and left to find the others.

"We should get going" Braska said to everyone. Rikku handed everyone some fruit she had gathered. Braska smiled to her. "Thank you Rikku. I’m sorry for keeping you all."

"Its no problem Braska." Jecht replied. The group started travelling again.

After a few more hours of traveling they reached Djose Temple. Everyone looked at it for a few minutes before entering. After entering, one of the priests came up to the group and welcomed everyone. The priest pointed towards the direction of the cloister of trials.

"Another summoner and his guardians is inside the trials right now. It will be tomorrow before you may enter them Lord Braska. My apologies." The priest explained.

"Another summoner? Who might it be?" Jecht asked.

"Lady Drina sir. She is starting on her pilgrimage today sir." He replied.

"However it is an inconvenience we will come back tomorrow morning. Is the Mi’ihen highroad very dangerous this time of year?" Auron asked.

"After Lord Braska has acquired the aeon from here he will not be in very decent shape to travel the long distance of the highroad. There is one place you could stay but it would go against our religion." The priest answered.

"The al bhed inn?" Braska asked.

"Yes sir, it is not too far of a distance from here. If you were to rest here at the temple for a while then go there then it would not be so dangerous, but I wouldn’t suggest going around those Al Bhed." He said.

"Hey! Don’t compla-" Rikku was cut off.

"Don’t mind her. We will make our decision in the morning. Good bye." Auron interrupted.

Everyone left the temple and went to the Inn. Rikku and Auron would be staying in one room, while Jecht and Braska in the other. After dropping off their belongings in the inn, they went to the restaurant inside the Inn for dinner.

"Well this sucks!" Rikku complained.

"We can’t help it Rikku. It was bound to happen sometime." Braska answered.

"I know, but why can’t we go in tonight? I mean it didn’t take long for Yu…uhh…nevermind." Rikku turned her head towards the table, losing all eye contact with Braska.

"You mean with Yuna? Yes well, some people who start their pilgrimage, if they life around the area sometimes the Priests close the trials for the day. Its kind of a sign of respect for the summoner." Braska answered.

"Braska?!" Rikku exclaimed.

"I’m sorry Rikku, I shouldn’t mention her should I? I guess I just miss Yuna." Braska smiled sadly. "She’s just a little girl. I wonder how she always felt when I was gone?"

"She will always love you Lord Braska." Auron interrupted.

"Yes, I know Auron. You’re right, but I just miss her very much. Sometimes I wonder why I even started this pilgrimage. Sometimes I want to go home to Yuna. I mean, I at least have her."

"You’re doing this for her Braska. You want her to live in a world without Sin." Rikku replied to his statement.

Braska stood up, getting everyone’s attention. He couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t stand this anymore. He took a glass and threw it across the room. Afterwards, stormed off to his room. Everyone looked in shock as the summoner had just done such a thing.

"I’ll go after him." Auron was about to stand.

"No, I will Auron. Please." Jecht looked at Auron. He nodded to him and Jecht left towards Auron as well. He knocked on the door "Braska, may I come in?" He didn’t hear anything and opened the door.

Braska was on the bed, crying. Jecht had not seen such a sight come from the man. Auron was right, he was strong but behind his laughter were tears. He sat down on the bed and consoled Braska. Braska looked up to Jecht, seeing the concern on his face. Jecht put his hand on Braska’s cheek, wiping the tears from Braska’s eyes.

"J…just like Auron." Braska whispered.

"Hmm?" Jecht wondered.

"A…Auron did the same thing. When my wife died he did the same thing." Braska answered.

"I see. It’s alright to cry Braska. Sometimes I want to cry."

"You Jecht?"

"Yeah, I really miss my wife and son. But I haven’t been very lonely, I’ve been with you guys since I’ve been here." Jecht gave Braska a genuine smile, as opposed to the smirks he would usually give.

"Jecht…about when I said I loved you last night…"

"I understand, don’t worry about it." Jecht interrupted.

"No Jecht, you don’t. I don’t understand myself. I don’t understand this feeling." Braska stated.

"Oh…well how about this. Why don’t you kiss me and see if something happens. If you feel something more than friendship we’ll talk about it. However if you don’t, then it just means that I’m your good friend…or something. Hell I don’t know what I’m talking about." Jecht explained.

"I…understand Jecht. You’re sure about this?" Braska asked.

"I’m sure about you, Auron and Rikku being my best friends. What happens tonight will not change that." Jecht reassured Braska.

"I’m nervous." Braska commented.

"Don’t be." Jecht moved closer to Braska’s face.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Braska and Jecht’s lips were no more than an inch apart.

"Shhh…" Jecht moved in that inch and locked lips with Braska. Braska immediately responded to the kiss. It was more of an innocent kiss then it had been a passionate one. Neither one of them wanted to move, to let go. However both of the men were stiff and didn’t move at all. Braska parted away from Jecht, and opened his eyes. Jecht was blushing.

"Jecht…" Braska barely spoke. Jecht opened his eyes as well and looked at Braska. He saw Braska smile. "Thank you."

"You don’t have to thank me Braska."

"Jecht. I don’t know if I really felt anything. I did but I didn’t as well. I’m so confused, even more than I was." Braska sighed.

"Well…do you want to kiss me again?" Jecht asked.

"Do you want me to kiss you again?" Braska Asked.

"I…don’t know." Jecht answered. Jecht was indeed confused at this time as well. While the kiss was a little uncomfortable, it was something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

"What should we do Jecht?" Braska saw the look on Jecht’s face.

"Listen. I told you, that you would be my best friend no matter what." Jecht looked into Braska’s eyes.

"Jecht, I really miss my wife."

"I do as well Braska."

"I’m not so sure I want to kiss you again Jecht." Braska said. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be sorry! I guess for a moment we kinda got into the moment." Jecht mumbled.

"Yeah. It’s not that it was a bad kiss. I guess I just miss the feeling. I guess maybe that’s what I had wanted."

"Me too Braska." Jecht laid back on the bed and closed his eyes. "Hey Braska, I did kinda enjoy it though. Does that sound well…" Jecht opened his eyes, seeing Braska hovered above him.

"If you enjoyed it that was fine. One can enjoy a kiss whether it is from a woman or a man. Its how you feel about that person that really judges if there’s passion." Braska smiled.

"Yeah, I guess you’re right." Jecht though for a moment. "We should probably not let anyone know this."

"I agree Jecht. This is our secret. I just want to let you know that you are my best friend as well."

Jecht pulled Braska to him and hugged him. "Best friends forever!" Then let him go. They both stood up and left the room, to find Auron and Rikku.

End notes: whahahahaha….you don’t know HOW close I decided to make this yaoi. Now I kinda do wanna write a yaoi with Braska and Jecht. Maybe it will be an alternate reality fanfic from this…I dunno…sorry about not writing too much Rikku and Auron, but its been a while since I really focused on those two ^^;;

Don’t worry; there won’t be anymore stuff like this in the rest of the fic.