I’m gonna make my fic the longest

Chapter Two

The final ball

A few days had passed since Rikku found herself in the past. She wasn’t sure what her reason was to be here but she figured she could just do things the way she wanted. She was going to find a way to save Auron, and possibly Braska and Jecht. However her head hurt from thinking so much about the consequences if she saved Braska and Jecht as well. Her life wouldn’t be like this today; she wouldn’t be here trying to save someone, to save people she cared for. She would figure something out.

Tonight is supposed to be the going away ball for Braska. A night of fun before Braska sets out to his death. Rikku wasn’t very excited about this party. She decided to go at the request of Braska however. Though she did not have a dress, much less anything else for this party. Rikku also still felt weak from whatever happened to her. Rikku decided to take a walk and get away from all this mess.

Rikku walked around Braska’s house some, and then she walked out to the shore and sat down on a rock. A few tears came down her face. ‘How am I supposed to do this? I can hardly be around Auron without tearing up.’ She thought. Rikku was very confused about her feelings at this point. Her and Auron had always argued, never got along. However she had strong feelings for him now. She thought more about Auron and how the Auron of the past and this Auron almost were two different people at times.

As she was walking back to Braska’s home, one of his servants came out and told Rikku to immediately see him. Rikku ran back to the house and saw him on the stairs. He turned around and smiled at her kindly, as usual. He walked up the stairs, asking her to come with him to his quarters. He pointed to a chair for her to sit down in and he walked out of the room. He came back, carrying a handful of dresses. He then went back into the other room and did the same thing once again

“You probably do not have anything to wear tonight. Here is every single dress of my wife’s. All they do is sit in the closet. I hope Yuna will wear them sometime, but since she is a child they are not used at all. Pick one you would like to wear. I will leave you to get ready, you may use my private bathroom to freshen up and prepare as well. I have asked one of my servants to help you as well.” Braska smiled at Rikku and stepped out of the room.

Rikku looked at the many dresses. She never wore dresses; there was never any occasion that she could. She finally picked one out that she liked. It was a long, frilly light blue dress. She got out of her clothes and put it on her. ‘It fits!’ she thought. She looked into the mirror and decided it was the one she wanted to wear. She heard the door knock and opened it. Braska walked back in.

“You already chose a dress?” He looked at her.

“Yeah..does it look good on me?” Rikku asked. She spun around a few times.

“Yes, in fact that was my wife’s favorite dress.” He smiled slightly remembering his wife.

“Oh..if you don’t want me to wear it I wont!” Rikku looked at some other dresses.

“No! I mean, I want you to wear it. It matches you. Everybody will like it, you might even get Auron to stare.” He chuckled after imagining Auron staring at a woman with his mouth open.

“I doubt I could get Auron’s attention. If he’s like anything I imagine him to be, he would care less.” Rikku sat down on the bed. Why did she care about Auron’s thoughts? She thought it was because she just him to be her friend and to trust her.

“Auron may hide his emotions sometimes. Also he may not be as talkative as some people but he is also a person. He feels, he cares, he even loves.” Braska smiled. He patted Rikku on the back and left the room again to let the girl get ready.

Rikku looked at herself in the mirror. She decided she would make this the best pilgrimage ever. She walked into the bathroom and prepared herself for a night of fun. Her previous thoughts of the party gone, and were filled with ones that told her to make this the best night of her life.

In the ballroom Braska, Jecht and Auron were off doing their own things. Braska was talking so a few people, Jecht was at the bar and Auron was walking around. Each of them also keeping an eye out for Rikku. Finally someone pointed to the stairs, wondering who that person was in Braska’s wife’s dress. Auron looked up and saw Rikku.

Braska and Jecht also stopped what they were doing to look at her. She walked gracefully down the steps of the staircase. She had decided to keep her hair down, instead of putting it in the pins and ribbons and whatever else she used to put in her hair. Everybody went back to their conversations, dancing and whatever else they may be doing.

The three men greeted her at the bottom of the staircase. She smiled at all of them. Braska offered his hand to her for a dance but was suddenly sucked into a conversation with a lady. Jecht exchanged a few words to her and then went off to the bar once more. Auron just looked at her for a few minutes.

“I…I must go find Yuna. Someone told me that she was asleep on the balcony, however afterwards I was wondering…” He trailed off.

“Wondering?” Rikku questioned. He looked at her again and looked down.

“Nothing, uhm I’ll let you be I guess.” And he walked off. Rikku tilted her head in confusion and then wandered around. She danced with a few people, then decided to have some dinner. Braska finally got the time to dance with her afterwards, and even Jecht did a small dance with her. She was just wondering, where is Auron?

“Where’s Auron?” Rikku asked.

“I’m not sure, he’s been gone for a long time.” Jecht replied.

“Oh, well I guess I’ll just wonder around.” Rikku frowned then walked away from the two men. Soon after Auron walked back into the room.

“Auron! Where were you?” Jecht wondered.

“Yuna wanted me to read her a story, oh and Lord Braska, you should probably spend some time with Yuna. She was asking for you.” Auron replied.

“Well I guess I’ll go sit next to her for a while. Auron, may I ask you to do something?”

“Anything for you my lord” He said to his friend.

“I think you should go dance with Rikku, have some fun Auron. Because starting tomorrow we will be off on our pilgrimage.” Braska nodded to the men and walked up the staircase to where his daughter lay waiting.

Auron went looking for Rikku. She was on the balcony alone looking to the ocean. He stood next to her, silently for a while. He wondered what it was about this female, why he felt like he could trust her. He also could say the same for Jecht but he did not want to riddle his head with such nonsense. He would have fun tonight, something he hasn’t had in a long time.

“Would you like to dance, Rikku?” He asked softly. He didn’t even think that she heard him.

“Yes.” That was all Rikku said. The two walked into the ballroom . They started to dance when Rikku saw on the staircase. ‘it cant be.’ There was the older version of Auron, sitting on the staircase. Rikku stopped dancing and let go of Auron.

“I’m sorry Auron! I really am!” Then ran out of the room, chasing a shadow. Auron just stood there for a few minutes, until he decided to look for her.

Rikku followed the opaque version of the man she once constantly argued with until they were in a secluded area. She saw Tidus, standing there. He ran to her and hugged her, his hands going through her body. She wanted to hug back, but realized that she wouldn’t be able to.

“What is going on?” She felt the tears coming down her face.

“Rikku, we must talk to you, about why you are here. All of us decided to choose you and not someone else. We were pretty sure no one would figure out who you are. We sent you back to the past, to this time to stop Auron’s younger self from attacking Yunalesca.” Tidus explained.

“There might be a way to keep Tidus in our time as well Rikku.” Auron looked at her. Auron looked a little different. His eyes were both open, however the scars and his grey hairs were still there. He smiled at Rikku.

“Well…that is still a distant possibility. You were brought to this time to keep Auron from going back to Yunalesca to kill her. His new mission must be to go to her to come to my time. However you MUST NOT interfere with Braska and Jecht’s fate.” Tidus added.

“If you fail, you will die. If you notice you are getting weaker. You will survive long enough to change things, but not longer. If you survive you will still disappear from this world although you will just go back to your time, to our time.” Auron stated.

Rikku thought for a long time. She was brought back to save them. Though Braska and Jecht’s lives would still be ignored. She had no choice in the matter. She looked up at the two, and nodded her head.

“Tidus, I must speak with her a few minutes alone if you don’t mind.” Auron told Tidus.

“I don’t mind. Well I must be off Rikku. You take care, and either way I’ll see you again.” Tidus disappeared into nothingness.

“Rikku, I wanted to give you this. You left them in the future.” He handed her his sunglasses.

“Also there’s one more thing. Yuna gave this to me, to give to Braska when I was sent. I give it to you to give to Braska before he summons the final aeon. Please give it to him.” And he handed her a sphere. He looked up at Rikku.

“There’s one more thing I wanted to tell you. I never got the opportunity to tell you this. I really did care for you on the pilgrimage. I felt more than friendship with you but I didn’t want you to come close with me. Take this opportunity to be with myself. I know its an odd request, but if I can feel love then it will help you.” He smiled at her and then disappeared as well.

Rikku was at a loss. She dropped to the ground, tears on her face. Auron had just admitted how he felt. Rikku felt so horrible, she couldn’t return the feelings that he felt. She did like the man as a friend, maybe possibly more but she wasn’t sure if she had fallen for him. Also she had seen Tidus again. She laid down on the grass and looked at Auron’s sunglasses. She put them on her head and looked around.

“They’re dark…I wonder how he could see?” She asked herself.

“See who?” Rikku turned around to see Auron standing behind her. He had a worried look on his face.

“Uhm…just someone I once knew.” Rikku lied.

“I was looking for you for a long time. You just ran out on me. I do not appreciate that.” He said in an angry tone.

“I’m sorry Auron, I thought I had seen someone that I lost a few years ago. I guess it wasn’t possible though.” Rikku looked down at the sphere and took the sunglasses off. She sighed, and decided enough was enough.

“I promise, I wont cry anymore Auron. I’ve done enough crying for 4 years. I’m tired of it. I want to make your life, our lives easy. I’ll be strong for Braska.” She stood up and heard the music.

“Rikku?” Rikku reached for Auron’s arm.

“It’s the last dance, we may not be in the ballroom but, as long as you can hear the music then its alright, isn’t it?” Auron smiled at Rikku, he stood up and they started to dance. Auron felt Rikku in his arms. ‘What a wonderful feeling’ Auron thought. Auron put his head on her shoulder. He closed his eyes and then FLASH!

“WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This one is going into the books buddy!” Jecht yelled. He had been filming the whole thing onto a sphere. He gave the sphere to Braska. Braska just smiled and released as small chuckle.

“JECHT!!!!! I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!!!” Auron chased after Jecht.

“He..he’s not going to really hurt him is he?” Rikku asked Braska.

“No, probably not. Auron knows not to hurt him. Rikku, thank you for dancing with Auron. I haven’t seen him that relaxed in a long time.” Braska waved to Jecht, and the two men went inside. Auron and Rikku were left alone again. Rikku looked at Auron. Auron looked at Rikku.

“I think you’re very beautiful Rikku.” Auron told her.

“Thank you Auron.” Rikku and Auron walked back together into the house. Rikku started to feel weak from the days events.

“Auron, I’m not feeling so well.” And collapsed in his arms.