A/N: First, I would like to apologize for not updating for so long. I would give excuses but you probably aren't interested in hearing them. This chapter has been redone, for the better I hope. Also thanks to anyone who has been following it so far.

Summary: What if Yuna chose the final aeon and Sin wasn't defeated? What if Rikku and the surviving guardians go on a new pilgrimage? What if Bevelle had claimed that Rikku had sabotaged Yuna's pilgrimage and was after her? This is that story. Rated T. Oh it will be Aurikku before the end, so if you don't like, you don't have to read. Characters may be OOC.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X.

Journey of the Hunted

Chapter 6: The Closer We Get

It has been three days since we left Luca and the weather is nice, everything is calm, and I am in a great mood. Out here on the open water I think happiness may be contagious because Auron has been acting happier than usual. Kimahri is definitely happy; I think he may have always wanted to be the captain of a boat or something.

Auron makes us practice a couple hours everyday, but besides that there's not much to do out here. It's nice, peaceful, and calm… definitely something we're not used to. Sometimes there is an unwanted side effect to peace and quite though, when it's peaceful you have time to think… and that's just what I've been doing. I've thought about Home, I've wondered how Pops and Brother are doing, I've wondered if my aunts and uncles that survived the attack three years ago are doing okay. I've wondered if they are rebuilding Home yet. I can't go back and find out yet though, not until this pilgrimage is over, maybe not even then. I guess eventually news will spread from Luca that there was an Al-Bhed summoner who saved them by the name of Rikku, but I wonder if Pops will even know that it was me. He should after all I am his daughter. I just hope if he does he don't come looking for me.

For the last few hours I've been bored out of my mind and trying not to think about everything, but it's hard you know, especially when you don't have anything else to do. If Yunie or Lulu were here I would have someone to talk to. I guess I could go talk to Auron or Kimahri, but the last time I checked they were busy discussing something about our ship. I could talk to myself but then everyone would think I am going crazy, and I don't need Auron considering me "mentally unstable" during this pilgrimage. I wish they would let me in on the discussion, but every time I approach them I get a "Not now, Rikku." from good old Auron. So I'm just sitting here thinking and twiddling my toes… ya know I'm getting really good at that lately.

Ya know, I never thought I could be really good friends with Auron and Kimahri until now. Auron, I think he's trying to make this as painless as possible for us both. Hey, he's even agreed to dance for me, nah, he really hasn't, that's not too bad of a thought though. Ya know I guess we now know the dangers of Rikku being bored… He did agree to teach me some sort of secret Bevellian stealth technique when we got the time.

After a while Auron comes walking towards me. We've done and practiced today so I know that's not what he's wanting. He slides down onto the floor beside of me and looks at me.

"You look worried?"

"Just thinking about stuff." I say.

"Stuff?" he says. The look on his face kinda says, 'Come on Rikku, tell me, I won't bite.'.

"Home, Pops, Brother, my friends, I guess I won't be seeing none of them for a long time huh?"

"Once this is over I'm sure you can see them."

"Yeah, I wonder what they'll do when they find out I'm not dead."

"They will probably be relieved." he says patting me on the shoulder.

"Hope so. I hope they don't consider me the prodigal daughter."

"I'm sure they won't."

"Thanks." I say leaning my head back against the wall.

"What else is on your mind?"

"I kinda miss Home. I wonder if they've rebuilt yet or not? I wonder how everyone is doing?"

"That's understandable." he says looking at me, "I'm sure everyone is fine."

"Yeah I hope so."

"I think dinner is ready." he says.

"Okay." I say getting up, "About time, I'm starved." Auron chuckles and follows me into our dining area. We eat in silence. After dinner I help Auron with the clean up and follow him around, probably annoying him, but he doesn't seem to mind, at least if he does he doesn't vocalize it. Then Auron has us practice again before dark. I work on summoning, Kimahri works on learning to steal, and Auron works on his healing magics. After we practice I lean back on the deck and watch the sunset.

Some time while the sun is setting Auron and Kimahri joins me and we talk about some of the stunts that Wakka and Tidus pulled on Yuna's pilgrimage. Even Auron chuckles over the time that Tidus tried to sneak into Yunie's room at the temple and almost broke his arm when he fell off the ladder. Its good sitting around and talking about the fun times. It makes me miss them even more though. After a while it gets dark, and Kimahri leaves us. Auron sits there, staring into the night sky.

"Pretty isn't it?" I say.

"Um hmm."

"What's on your mind?"

"Kimahri has been receiving some anonymous transmissions through the sphere, they sound vaguely Al-Bhed."

"I could translate them for you…

"You could, but we don't trust the source of them."

"It wouldn't hurt to see what they are saying would it?"

"Probably not."

"You want me to listen to them?"

"That's what Kimahri and I have been discussing. If its some kind of distress signal, you will most likely want to try and provide some help…

"And why would that be such a bad thing? I know it would slow us down."

"As I said we do not trust the source, it could be a trap."

"Or it could be normal Al-Bhed communication between ships." I say, "So can I listen?"

"Will you try and communicate with them?"

"No. I promise I won't." I say.

"I suppose you can… He starts and is unexpectedly wrapped in a bear hug. It's been so long since I have heard any of my family or friends' voices that I almost knock the poor guy on his side hugging him. After detaching my arms from around his neck he stands. "Come on."

I follow him excitedly, humming. Once in the Communications Room he flips on the sphere. First I hear static and then:

"Syotyo, Syotyo. Cinjejunc uh Creb. Cinjejunc uh Creb. Fa'na staticgehk. Fa fana static po dra static static. Lyh static rayn ic. E nabayd Syotyo. Cinjejunc uh creb. Fa haat ramb. Uin luuntehydac static static. Bmayca ramb ic. Drec ec dra Cay Xiaah, fa haat ouin ramb. "

"What are they saying?"

"Mayday, Mayday. Survivors on Ship. Survivors on Ship. We're sinking. We were by the . Can hear us. I repeat Mayday. Survivors on ship. We need help. Our coordinates . Please help us. This is the Sea Queen, we need your help." I say. "Auron…

"Rikku don't even say it."

"But Auron they sound so desperate." I say.

"They would."

"Of course they would, anyone would if their ship was sinking."

"Rikku…

"Auron what?"

"I told you that Kimahri and I do not trust the source of the transmissions."

"I know but it sounds real to me. The Sea Queen is a real Al-Bhed ship. Auron that ship is…

"It may be real, but either way it could still be a trap."

"Auron what if Pops and Brother are on that ship? I mean listen, the Sea Queen is Pops' ship."

"Rikku…

"Auron listen. Pops and Brother are the closest family I have left."

"I know." He says. "But Rikku."

"What Auron?"

"Rikku, what if we go and it's too late when we arrive? We don't even have the exact coordinates, and we've been getting that transmission for 18 hours now."

"Auron what if it isn't too late? We can use the Comm Protocol address to narrow down the location to say 80 kilometers."

"Okay do it." He says. "Once you're done, I'll tell Kimahri to set our course."

"Okay." I say and begin checking the CP address.

"I hope this isn't a trap."

"Auron how could it be one the only people that know the Sea Queens real name are us Al-Bhed?"

"When communicating with other ships don't you use the ships name?"

"Yes, but on those transmissions everything is usually encrypted."

"I know Rikku." He says and walks out of the room.

Once I have finished checking the CP address, I tell Auron, and he tells Kimahri. Then I go to bed.

I wake up sometime before the next morning. I get out of bed and go to the deck. Its early morning and I don't know…something doesn't feel right. Then I hear someone yelling from a distance. I run over and look out in the direction the screaming is coming from and see a boat sitting about ninety feet away. I can't tell for sure what they are saying, but it doesn't sound good. Please don't let this be the Bevellian Navy!