AN: Gomen! I haven't had a chance to update XP I'm going back to Vermont (again, like I do every summer) on Saturday, so I'm gonna try and see if I can squeeze one more update in after this. Though it won't be likely ^-^;; I'll be gone for a week. But I will have updates when I get back!

Someone asked why Auron said, "Argh!" I'm sorry, that was Rikku ^-^;; I made it a little unclear. Gomen!

Please excuse any grammatical errors, I haven't really had time to proofread ^-^;;

~*^-^*~

Rikku mumbled in her sleep and snuggled closer to her blanket. She pulled an arm over her until it was draped across her waist. Satisfied, she listened to the steady beating of a heart. Wait a minute. An arm? A heart?

Rikku gulped and opened her eyes, peering up into Auron's amused eye. It was then she realized she was not under a blanket. Oh no. In fact, the blanket was under her. Glancing fearfully down to her hips, she saw the arm she had dragged on top of her.

"Comfortable?" Auron's voice made her shudder, even though she could hear the faint trace of amusement. Without a second thought, Rikku bolted up, scrambling to get out of bed. To her utter most shock and pleasure, Auron grabbed her wrist. She froze, unsure of what to do. Unable to even possibly comprehend what was happening.

"G-gomen. I didn't mean to fall asleep with-I mean on you! No! Wait! I mean…" Rikku trailed off, hopelessly flustered. Auron watched her babble, a small smirk on his face. Did she always make those cute faces when confused?

"It's all right." He found himself saying gruffly. Stretching his arms above his head, he pretended not to notice Rikku's eyes on him. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, he heard her sharp intake of air.

"Is there a problem?"

"P-problem!?" Rikku's voice was raised a few notches to an almost unbearable squeak. Auron raised an eyebrow.

"Nope! No problem here!" Rikku laughed nervously and averted her eyes. Auron, feeling very unlike himself, leaned across the bed to where Rikku was sitting and brushed a hand across her arm. She tensed, hesitating before turning around.

"You look a little…flushed." With that said, he gently brushed back her bangs and placed a hand on her forehead. Startled, Rikku gaped at him. His hand was cold, she noted absently, staring at his face. She closed her eyes as his hand traced gently down her face to cup her cheek. Auron felt a slight pressure on his hand and was a little surprised to find Rikku's hand on his. Slowly, her fingers entwined with his. Glancing back at her face, he noted the flaming red color of her face.

"A-Auron?" She called to him hesitantly. He shook his head to clear his thoughts when he heard her voice.

"What is it?"

"Were we…That is…Did we…Were we ever more than friends?"

Auron blinked. What had ever given him the idea that…Oh. He glanced down at their hands, as if he hadn't noticed them before. And when had they gotten so close? Last he remembered, he was sitting on the other side of the bed, ready to leave. And where was his shirt? Oh wait, he had taken that off last night to please the reviewers. (AN: ^-^)

Auron pulled back mutely, and Rikku mourned the sudden loss of his touch. He turned his back to her and grabbed his discarded shirt from the floor. What was he doing? What was he thinking? How could he let himself lose control like that? And with Rikku? There was nothing wrong with her, granted sometimes she opened her mouth at the wrong time, but she was young. She had her whole life ahead of her. He didn't even have a life. Hell, he wasn't even alive! As soon as they rejoined with Yuna, they would be back on the trail for Sin. And after that…After that…

"Auron?"

A timid voice calling out to him made him glance over his shoulder. Rikku sat looking back at him, eyes large, confused, and embarrassed. Cursing under his breath, he pulled on his shirt.

"No, we weren't. And we won't ever be." He scowled. The words sounded harsh, even to him. He sneaked a glance at her as he pulled on his boots. Her bottom lip and chin trembled under the effort to hold back tears. Her eyes, for a brief moment looked full of heartbreak and ever-present confusion. Feeling the heavy weight of his stare, she turned her head and masked the pain in her eyes behind a look that said she couldn't care less.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you." Auron muttered, feeling guilty for practically yelling at her. She looked surprised, but quickly shrugged, eyes empty.

"What's there to be sorry about. C'mon, let's get going. I want to meet up with everyone. They're probably worried." With that she stood and strode out the door. He winced when she slammed it behind her.

"Why do I care so much?" Rikku muttered, back pressed against the door. She ran a hand past her eyes, surprised to find them moist with tears. Shaking her head, she walked into the lobby of the inn to wait for her traveling companion.

~*^-^*~

Yuna struggled a couple steps forward before collapsing to the ground, her staff falling with her. Tidus, who was closest, rushed to help her.

"Yuna! You shouldn't push yourself so much!" He took her arm and helped her to her feet. She stumbled, almost punch-drunkenly, and Tidus had to wrap an arm around her waist to hold her up.

"A-arigatou." She mumbled, shaking off another wave of dizziness. They had managed to defeat Seymour, but just barely. Although they all had time to recover, it was obvious Yuna didn't. She should have felt happy. She should have felt renewed. But she didn't Seymour's defeat had made her feel temporarily invincible. She had been elated, and proud that she alone delivered the final blow. Not her friends or her aeons, but her. And she had enjoyed the look of astonishment and anger on Seymour's face before he faded into pyerflies.

Despite the bitter-sweet victory, Yuna had a gut feeling that it wasn't all over. They would meet again. And that knowledge made her sick. While the others slept she stayed awake, fear and anxiousness eating away at her. During meals she couldn't force herself to eat, and she was the one urging the group forward even when her body protested. She was neglecting her body, and she knew it very well. But she couldn't rest. Not until they found Sir Auron and Rikku.

"Daijoubu. Hurry, we need to keep going and-"

"That's quite enough. There's an inn not far from here. We can rest there." Lulu stepped forward and placed a restraining hand on Yuna's arm. Yuna opened her mouth to protest, but both Wakka and Tidus had fixed her with stern looks.

"Yuna needs rest. Khimari knows." The large blue Ronso said, easily scooping Yuna into his arms. She protested feebly, but could already feel her traitorous eyes closing.

"We need…Rikku…Sir Auron…"

"Rest. We'll find them. They're strong, ya?" Wakka playfully messed up her hair. She smiled sleepily, and unhappily forced herself to sleep.

"She hasn't been sleeping or eating. This is really getting to her." Lulu pointed out as she shifted the bundle of clothes that Yuna insisted they should pick up for when they found their friends. Tidus nodded, casting a worried glance towards the unconscious summoner.

"The sooner we get to the inn, the better."

~*^-^*~

Rikku kicked a stone from her seat on the inn fence. What was taking Auron so long? Sighing, she scanned the Calm Lands, looking for anything of interest. She saw something moving forward and squinted. It wasn't something, it was someone! No! There was more than one!

Hope fluttered in her chest as Rikku sprang off the fence and raced closer, closing the gap between her and the people before her. If she could just get a little closer, she would be able to tell who…

"Rikku!"

"Y-Yunie?" Rikku gasped as she saw the summoner in Khimari's arms. The brunette waved happily, relief clearly written all over her face. Rikku laughed and ran towards them.

"Rikku?" Auron asked as he came out of the inn. Either she didn't hear him or she paid him no mind and kept running. When he saw exactly who she was running to, he felt a great sense of relief and at the same time disappointment and…regret? Relief because they were okay. Disappointment because he and Rikku wouldn't be alone anymore. Regret because they were one step closer to defeating Sin. One step closer until Rikku would know the truth.

~*^-^*~

AN/Glossary:

Arigatou: Thanks/Thank you

Daijoubu: Are you okay?/I'm okay.

Gomen: Sorry

Whoo…drama filled chapter. I realized Yuna and co. haven't really been present in the last couple chapters ^-^;; oops! I tried to add a little Auron x Rikku waff, and I think I managed to stay pretty much in character. What do you think? Hopefully soon I can actually write it so that they're together ^-~ Just need to get it in character. Anyone with some ideas to the big "Auron x Rikku waffy hookup", please enlighten me! XD

I'm surprised I was able to write this while listening to a David Bowie CD o.o I had to refrain from singing along XD Anyway, that's not the point! Sorry Auron didn't lose any clothes ^-^;; I was deeply disappointed too. But he pointed out in our contract that he signed against walking around in less than pants and boots XD

Review Please!

~Neoshipper~