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Room 4, Rin's Travel Agency, Macalania

The water tasted swampy, Raine realized, smacking on the tap's aftertaste as she peered into the glass. Swallowing with a grimace, she dumped the rest down the drain and set the cup on the aqua tiled counter next to the bathroom's rust-stained stone basin. Zanarkand's water tasted clean and sweet, surely the product of a higher grade filtration system, and Raine felt a stitch of guilt. She wasn't in Zanarkand anymore and the Travel Agency in the middle of Rural, Nowhere was only doing the best it could. Refusing to be a water snob, she made another attempt, filling the glass with a few swallows and downed them hastily, overlooking the faint sewer tang.

Combing her fingers through her bangs, she twisted her lips reproachfully at her reflection. Her hair had gotten shorter and straighter over the years and this morning it had been so pretty, fun, with loose curls and a lavender moon flower in her ear, but now it was flat and separated and needed a brushing. Unfortunately, she hadn't the luxury of packing a bag before Auron pitched her into the portal, but she did have one thing that would help.

She shuffled over to the toilet and set the lid down, bracing a bare foot on the top as she gathered up the material of her wedding dress to her thigh. She pried the lace and ribbon garter down her leg. Raine thought her husband would be taking it off her, now it was her new cute hair tie. By design, her hair was just long enough to collect in a tiny thatch at the base of her head, like a blonde shoe-shine brush. That was her only stipulation to her hair dresser in Zanarkand: she had to be able to pull it back.

"Raine?"

Auron.

"In here," Raine called. After a final inspection in the etched mirror over the sink, Raine swung the bathroom door wider.

Auron was standing by the wood-carved table in the center of the room, sifting through an open suitcase. Raine could see it was full of mostly clothes, arbitrarily folded.

She roamed around the room uneasily, her arms folded together for lack of anywhere else to put them, pausing here and there to inspect some quaint detail. The profile of a yellow lion was weaved into the fabric of a crimson banner hanging over the bed's headboard. There were handmade glass vases on the dresser and the antique lamp on the stand by the bed had been rewired with machina. She was looking through water, the strange weightlessness of déjà vu overwhelming her until she realized she'd been staring unthinkingly at a framed notice on the wall, written in another language. Was it the same language on the signs outside? Probably, but chances are it didn't say anything extraordinary. Likely just fire drill instructions or the house rules, like no loud noises after 10 o'clock or how pets were not allowed. Could Auron read it? Could he speak it? Gosh, she'd known him almost all her life and she didn't know if he spoke another language.

Floating over to the window, where gold tasseled pull-backs draped away emerald velvet curtains to let in pale blue winter light, Raine observed as a trio of men approached the Travel Agency from the opposite way she and Auron had come, walking along the snow shoveled path in waterproof boots with fur trim. They were more suitably dressed than Raine and Auron had been on their arrival. One was wearing long green robes with flowy sleeves, holding a staff with a strange gold pinwheel at one end. The other two wore heavier, sturdier garments, belts, gauntlets and swords at their sides. One had a shield shaped like a star attached to his forearm.

"Raine?"

Coming back inside, Raine blinked at Auron. She'd been aware he'd been busily moving around the room, but she hadn't been paying attention to what he was doing. Now, he was sitting barefoot on a stool at the table, leaning an ankle on his knee, unfolding a pair of dry socks. His feet were blindingly white, the nails clear and closely cropped.

"You're all right?" he asked sternly.

Numbly, she nodded, and meandered off to another part of the room she found interesting. She had always believed Auron when he talked about Spira, his home, but bizarrely believed it less now that she was here.

Had the man outside been a Summoner, too? If so, he had two Guardians. Did that mean two Guardians were better than one? Raine understood Yuna had several Guardians. Was her chance of beating Sin less, since she only had Auron? If she did manage to beat Sin with only one Guardian, would she be treated differently? It was unlikely she would be in Spira long enough for that kind of popularity, since she planned on returning to Zanarkand as soon as she could.

But something slimy and cold hit her behind the breastbone when she realized Sin had been a part of the portal. No Sin, no portal. Auron didn't mention she would have to leave her loved ones behind, not that there were many she would miss: Great Aunt Naya, Colton from work…Jory. Most of the ties she made were loosely bound, a simple, shoelace knot that could be easily unraveled with a single tug when it was time to move on.

Still, she gave Auron a sour look just for the principle of it, but he was too busy slipping on fresh socks to see it. Auron had an iceberg of knowledge, but he only chose to show her the tip.

Time slid away from her and for a few minutes she was a figurine, wearing a bedraggled wedding dress in the middle of an otherworldly motel, absently watching Auron. Not much time went by, she realized, just enough for Auron to put on both boots, tuck in the legs of his pants and have one tied up, but by the time she was aware of herself again, he had stopped in the middle of lacing the other.

"You're sure you're okay?" he asked again.

She stared at him a few beats, uncomprehending, and when she spoke, the words coming out seemed not her own. "I—I've never seen your feet before."

Nimbly, he finished lacing up his boots, without taking his eye off her, tilting his head, bemused. "And?"

Gently sinking onto the beaded coverlet adorning the bed, she gave his boots a humorless expression. "They're veiny."

"Hmph."

By now, she had learned what his grunts and mumbles meant. This one in particular meant: Interesting.

"I can't believe you walked across the snow fields wearing just your socks. You'll get frostbite."

"I've had frost bite. This isn't it."

She nodded vaguely, mind afloat again, thinking of other things, snapping back suddenly when something occurred to her. Auron had approached the dresser, transferring the clothes from the suitcase to a drawer, but she didn't remember him even getting up.

"Rin called you Sir Auron," she remarked.

"Hm," he said affirmatively.

"Why?"

"Complimentary title."

"For beating Sin?"

"Hm."

Twice. Auron beat Sin twice. Maybe that was why the Summoner in the green robes outside had two Guardians. They were less experienced. "Should I be calling you Sir?"

Auron scowled. "Please don't."

Stifling a smile, she knew already she'd be calling him Sir, just to aggravate him.

"Will I get a title for beating Sin?"

Hands buried in the suitcase, Auron hesitated for a nanosecond, so quick it was barely noticeable. "They will call you High Summoner Raine."

"Nice ring."

Auron replied with a slam of dresser drawer and the colored vases tinkled together as they wobbled. To her, he tossed some clothes from the suitcase. "You'll have to change."

The tunic was short-sleeved, bright blue with beads embroidered at the neckline and the trousers were tan, straight-legged and made of thin linen. She looked at them with mild interest, checking the sizes first and nodding her approval. At least they were clean and smelled freshly laundered, which was how Raine knew they were used, but it wasn't the first thing she'd claimed second-hand and it wouldn't be the last. "Auron, it's 20 degrees out there. These pants have less protection than my dress."

His eyebrows knit together over his sunglasses, two lines forming readily between his eyes. "Trust me."

"Who bought them?"

Auron raised his chin, loosely offended. "I did."

She tried to picture Auron at a clothing store, picking through the stock, guessing at sizes, coordinating colors…the image simply wouldn't coalesce in her brain. "With your vision, I'm surprised they don't all clash," she said dryly.

He straightened his posture at her, raising an eyebrow, but she didn't apologize. The skin around his sunglasses crinkled and she knew he was smiling under his belted collar.

"Are you back?"

She grinned, bewildered. "Back?"

"Sin's toxin has a muddling reputation."

"So does switching worlds," she muttered.

"Good point."

He bent to pick up his cloak from the bed, sliding his arms into the sleeves. It was made of tightly woven cotton and silk and dyed red with navy satin trim and gold stitching. He reached for something on the table, something she hadn't noticed before, and clipped it to his belt with a beaded rope. When he turned, a bone-white, stoneware jug swayed weightily on his hip and she could read the single word painted in a dark glaze on the side: "Nog." Whatever that meant.

As he clasped the belt on his great coat, his sunglasses rested on her. "We don't have all day."

"I know." She glanced reticently down at her dress. "But I can't reach the back."

Approaching her dutifully, he turned his palm up and bent his fingers twice to get her to stand up. She did, showing him her back.

"It's a zipper," she said, hoping to relieve the swell of tension as Auron assessed her garment.

"I see that," he mumbled and added, "Nice hair band."

She'd forgotten all about it and automatically touched the lace at the back of her head. "It's all I had."

"Hmph."

Suspiciously, her eyes darted back and forth across the bed, unable to interpret his grunt accurately. Did he mean Interesting again, or was he saying it disapprovingly?

Pinching the fabric at her neckline, he unzipped her charily. She was sucking in, holding her breath, the teeth of the zipper splitting, and she waited to see how far down he would go. She never had to ask him to do this before; any dresses she owned at home fastened at the waist. Of course, she expected to take her wedding dress off at some point, but under amatory circumstances.

"Can you reach it from there?"

Raine wrenched her arm behind her, the tips of her fingers touching the metal closure, which was centered between her shoulder blades. Inexplicably embarrassed, Raine's face flooded with heat. "Thanks," she said tersely and felt the need to quickly dart into the bathroom and close the door. Unfastening the dress the rest of the way, she jumped out of it, but was greeted with more discomfiture: the underwear she had on was new and white and pretty. Again, not how she expected her wedding day to end.

Handling her dress delicately, she swung it over the shower rod to keep it off the floor as she dressed, even though she'd just spent half the morning stomping through wet snow fields, constantly tripping on the hem in Auron's dirty, oversized boots.

When she was done, she carried her wedding dress into the main room like a lover. Auron was still emptying the suitcase, filling up a second drawer. In the closet to her right, Raine looked for a hanger, but the rod was placed too low for the length of her dress, so she hooked the hanger over the top of the door instead. Arranged at the foot of the bed where she would see it was a long, warm coat, stitched from the tanned hide of some animal, and on the floor next to it, a pair of small boots.

"Are we going somewhere?" Raine asked.

Auron was unpacking the last few articles from the suitcase, just wads of fabric in his hands as he chucked them into the drawer. "Macalania Woods."

"What's there?"

"Fiends."

"Oh, right. My preparation," she said. She meant it as a jibe to his earlier choice of words, but it came out bitter. She sat on the bed and inspected the boots before inserting her feet into them. They had high arches to better support the shape of her feet and they showed signs of light wear on the soles; also used.

"We have a lot of work to do before you're up to speed."

"With the other Summoners?" Raine remembered the threesome from the window.

"If they're new. Some will be giving the pilgrimage a second try. Some even a third."

"How can I compete with that kind of experience?"

"Experienced Summoners are not necessarily the bravest," he murmured, securing the front clasps on the suitcase. "The last two calms were prompted by brand new Summoners. Remember that."

She nodded with resolve and felt like she should be taking notes.

Auron carried the suitcase to the closet, where he gave the wedding dress a perturbed look before swinging open the door and stuffing the luggage somewhere in the back. Without hesitation, he also snatched the dress and shoved it into the closet, kicking the overlong hem inside so he could close the door without catching the material in the hinges. Raine's face fell, offended, wounded, like he'd just struck her puppy, but she lowered her head and fixated on lacing her boots, pretending she hadn't witnessed him handling her dress so gruffly.

Downstairs, Rin was unpacking a new box of flasks for display on a rotating wooden rack, quickly dispensing the last couple when he saw Raine and Auron descending the stairs.

Auron advanced to the counter and Raine hovered inconspicuously behind him to discourage Rin's small talk. Auron told her never to disclose she was from Zanarkand.

Disposing of the empty flask box, Rin hurried to his workstation, snatching a folded sheet of paper from a small wooden crate Raine only now noticed was waiting on the counter. Unfolding the invoice, Rin slipped on his bifocals.

"Let's see…7 potions, 2 antidotes, 1 phoenix down, 1 Enchanted Rod, 1 Nultide Ring and 1 Seeker's Bracer. Sound right?"

"There should be one more item," Auron said, absently touching the straps on the front of his collar with his gauntlet.

"Oh, yes, here. One book: The Teachings of Yevon. It's here," Rin said, leaning back slightly to peer behind the counter. He found it, slammed it down. It was as thick as a club sandwich. "Volume 4. The sending works," he said with an emphasis Raine didn't understand at first, as he gave Auron a significant glance over the tops of his glasses. Of course, Auron didn't respond and Raine was secretly glad. Auron often left lingering holes in place of replies, where uncomfortable silences stewed, allowing conversation to simmer when he should be helping to stir. He seemed better at it now, at least with her.

Raine rotated the book to better see the cover. She couldn't read the title and when she opened it to a random page, she shook her head. "What is this? Summoning for Dummies?"

Rin let loose a surprised laugh, immediately choking it with a clear of his throat when he glanced at Auron. He busied himself with something behind the counter.

Auron hardened, pursing his lips and Raine imagined he was rolling his eyes behind those cryptic glasses as he collected the ampoules in the bottom of the crate and stuffed them in various small pockets in his cloak.

Producing a staff from a shelf behind his counter, Rin handed it to Raine and she started to take it with both hands, but Auron grabbed it first. It was almost like the one the Summoner in the green robes outside had been carrying, except this one had three teardrops angled in a circle, like peacock feathers, for its top symbol. The long handle was blue and red, faded at the places where it was held the most and dangling at the end was a tiny spherical charm. While Auron scrutinized it from all angles, apparently checking to see if the handle was straight and testing the weight, he didn't notice Rin sliding the Nultide Ring across his workstation and wink at Raine conspiratorially.

Set in the prongs was an elaborate emblem that glowed bluish and seemed to pulse in her fingers when she picked it up. She held out her left hand to put it on, froze momentarily when she saw her wedding ring and started to slide it on her middle finger instead. Rin reached over to stop her, indicating to her right hand.

"It will work better on the other hand," Rin said and added in a whisper, "Less interference from the wedding band."

Raine grinned covertly and slipped the ring on her right ring-finger. It seemed a little big and the only thing keeping it from sliding off her finger was her knuckle.

Seemingly satisfied with the craftsmanship, Auron nodded at her and she gripped the Enchanted Rod awkwardly. Despite the magical nature of its name, it was actually quite cumbrous and the top symbol made it extremely heavy. Auron was clamping the bracer on his forearm as Raine experimented with the staff's balance, when the bell over the door rang. Auron peered back over his shoulder and it shocked Raine when he cursed under his breath.

"Sir Auron," said a woman with a superior inflection.

An attractively exotic woman in her early thirties blocked the door, hand on her bare waist, her eyes flaring across the store at Auron. She wore a beautifully gleaming grey fur cape over an ensemble that was not nearly enough for the climate: little more than a bikini with strips of cloth at her hips, laced together with string and purple sleeves without shoulders. Even Raine had a hard time keeping her eyes up. Her dark hair was pulled up in a loose bun, a tendril of curled hair tumbling down her neck. Closing the door, a large man wearing a brown winter coat buttoned to his thick neck stood at attention behind her. He had a flat face, except for a protruding shelf of forehead, dim eyes and a permanent scowl, but he was still handsome in a jock sort of way.

"Macalania Temple already?" she asked Auron skeptically and her heeled boots clacked formidably across the floor. The man shadowed dutifully.

Raine found herself drifting over to the display shelves before they could take notice of her.

"I didn't even know you had joined a pilgrimage," she said.

"Just passing through," Auron said coolly, nodding politely to the large man, extending his gauntlet hand to give him a firm, even shake, the mutually reverent greeting of two Guardians. "Barthello."

"Sir Auron," Barthello said, his nod dipping further, almost bowing to Auron, and the woman glanced snidely around the store during the exchange.

Raine ducked further behind the rack, her eyes glazing over the inventory: corked ampoules, arranged by color, labeled with prices. She recognized the green tinted ones; Auron had given it to her to drink once, glossing over its contents with a sardonic comment about how she consumed it without asking what was in it first. According to the shelf tag, it was vaguely called "potion." How scientific.

"I believe this is the first time I've seen you without a Summoner during Sin season," the woman said.

"Oh, she's around here somewhere," Rin sang.

Oh, Rin, shut-up! Raine thought intensely.

"So you are on a pilgrimage," the woman said mordaciously.

Prickling, Raine stayed hidden behind the shelves, feigning interest in something generically called "remedy," as she heard the sandy grate of a boot on the tiled floor. She didn't want to meet Auron's friends. Too much pressure. Meeting Rin was already enough for one day.

As the woman's boots clicked dauntingly across the floor again, Raine panicked, picked up a container of something purple to blend in, to make it seem like she belonged there and that she wasn't eavesdropping, just as the barely clad woman rounded the display. Up close, a diamond gem centered on her forehead glinted in the light.

She crossed her arms with an arrogant raise of her nose, appraising Raine's second hand clothes and used boots in a way that made Raine wonder if she still had a tag sticking out somewhere, but she resisted the urge to look for it. "This is your Summoner?"

"Good morning," Raine greeted with a practiced smile, putting away the purple ampoule and subtly keeping her wedding ring at her side to avoid awkward questions. "My name is Raine, and you are-?"

"Summoner Dona," she said, giving the impression Raine should already know this.

"Dona, it's so nice to meet you. I've never met any of Auron's…Sir Auron's friends." She flicked her eyes obliquely to Auron, but he was making no attempt at saving her.

"Friends?" she barked sarcastically. "You give Sir Auron too much credit."

Raine held tight to the spark in her smile, despite the slight against her Guardian.

"I would be a fool not to get a glimpse of Sir Auron's Summoner before it's too late."

Too late? What was that supposed to mean? Raine wanted to ask, but she didn't want to appear too ignorant in front of everyone.

"He is a lucky relic for Summoners, it seems. Or unlucky, depending how you look at it."

"Why's that?" Raine blurted.

From the corner of Raine's eye, Auron's posture stiffened and the room felt sweltering despite all the cold air Dona had let in a few minutes ago. Raine could feel a pressure in the room, like she had committed a faux pas and nobody wanted to correct her, and she pretended to be very interested in some invisible detail of her Enchanted Rod.

Dona dropped her almond eyes blankly to Raine for a moment before she slowly narrowed them. Raine could see her mind working. "Where did you say you were from again?"

"I didn't," Raine said.

"Hmm, I see." She peered back at Auron briefly and muttered, "Sir Auron has a habit of picking up strays for his pilgrimages. They've all had the same fish-out-of-water look you have." She gave Raine another disdained look before walking away. "Let's go Barthello."

Raine waited for her to pass by before stepping forward to Auron, who was leisurely walking towards her, shaking his head at her.

"I don't think she likes me," Raine said dimly.

"I don't think you care."

Looking towards the stairs after them, Barthello nipping at Dona's heels, Raine wondered if that was how Auron looked following her. "Are they married?"

"I don't know."

"They love each other."

Auron's head skewed very slightly. "How can you tell?"

"Barthello scowls a little less when he looks at her."

Auron looked thoughtfully in the direction of the stairs.

Raine pinched her chin. "They aren't having sex, though."

His glasses flew back to her. "Raine."

"How else do you explain why's she's such a bitch?"

From behind the counter, Rin snorted and excused himself as he leaned over his bookwork.

A-West, Zanarkand

Her mother's funeral had been a dismal day; over the Zanarkand skyline, a sheet of leaden clouds threatened rain. There was a small turnout. Some of her mother's friends from work made an appearance and a few relatives Raine didn't know. None of her friends from school came for support, but she supposed it didn't matter. She'd be switching to C-South soon anyway.
/]
[/ She was allowed to stand at the front, nearest the grave, as was Tidus, who stared bleakly at the coffin with red rimmed eyes. The priest recited prayers, sprinkling in the morsels of her mother's personality Tidus had relinquished to him prior to this charade. It made the funeral seem intimate, but Raine knew better. Her mother wasn't religious and neither was Raine or Tidus and the priest had never met her mother while she was alive, but society mandated these silly rituals so the living could more easily mourn.
/]
[/ Mourn. Is that what was happening here? As far as Raine could tell, only Tidus was mourning. There was a supervisor from her mother's work that was sniffling a little, probably more concerned with covering the shifts her mother wasn't able to work now, but everyone else was standing still, occasionally looking at their watches, wondering when the food will be served so they could go home and get out of their uncomfortable black clothes. They were here out of obligation, not to mourn.
/]
[/ Raine had done her mourning already, in the privacy of her room, so that she wouldn't have to do it in front of all these strangers, who would only pity her. She could see the looks they gave Tidus, those gentle expressions of sympathy, if they looked at him at all with his display of emotion. Apparently, Raine and Tidus were not a strong enough line to keep their mother tethered to this world.
/]
[/ Making some off-hand remark about her mother juggling in the Farplane, the priest paused to allow the "grievers" some response time and Raine suppressed a smile, ignored Tidus' incredulous look. Raine had given the priest that nugget of pure comical genius while Tidus was blowing his nose in the bathroom. Raine glimpsed back to see the reaction of her mother's co-workers, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the bright red of Auron's cloak, a splash of color in a pool of black. His sunglasses reflected the grey of the overcast.
/]
[/ Facing the front, Raine firmly nudged Tidus in the ribs. "Auron's here."
/]
[/ "Where?" Tidus rapidly swiped at a big, fat tear streaking down his tan cheek, but didn't turn around. He wouldn't want his mentor to see him crying.
/]
[/ "In the back. Great Aunt Naya is giving his sword dubious looks."
/]
[/ "Stop calling it a sword. It's a katana."
/]
[/ The priest stopped in mid-sentence, long enough to stifle Tidus and Raine.
/]
[/ Raine waited until the shock of seeing Auron wore off before daring another look over her shoulder, but he was gone.
/]
[/ Had he even been there, or did she imagine him?
/]
[/ No, there he was, heading for the gate.
/]
[/ "He's leaving," Raine said softly, without moving her lips, keeping her eyes straight ahead so the priest couldn't detect she was talking.
/]
[/ "You'd better run if you want to give your boyfriend a kiss before he leaves," Tidus murmured around a smart smirk.
/]
[/ "Tidus!" Raine hissed.
/]
[/ Scanning the people behind them, Raine was sure every one of them had heard what her brother said, positive they were all laughing at her, but they were standing stoic and serious to the front, their stares empty. Some almost made eye contact with her, their faces starting to soften in pity, but Raine faced forward before they could engage her. Tidus couldn't resist teasing her, even at their mother's funeral, even if it was only to distract himself from his grief. Raine admitted she had had a crush on Auron when she was little, but she let that go when she could no longer bear the humiliating idea Tidus might eventually tell him. Tidus would do it, too, just to mortify her, just to watch her red-faced and squirming around Auron.
/]
[/ On more than one occasion, when their usual babysitter had cancelled or was unavailable on nights her mother had to work, Auron would step in. Raine remembered how authoritative he was towards Tidus. He was gentler to Raine, but when Raine thought back on it, she realized he was actually being distant. Tidus was a real shithead to their mother sometimes, especially after their father disappeared, and Raine was no better with Tidus there to instigate it all, but around Auron, Tidus was on his best behavior and Raine usually followed suit. Bath-time was unsupervised and they got into pajamas and brushed their teeth without being told. There was no story-time and Raine made doubly sure she'd peed and taken her drinks of water before bed because there was no getting out of bed once they were there. Auron spent the rest of the night on the porch, sitting alert on the step and once in a while he'd get up to stretch his legs and patrol the yard before returning to his post at the front door.
/]
[/ "Crybaby," Raine muttered.
/]
[/ "Brainy Rainy," he shot back.
/]
[/ Once, the names used to sting, especially in the heat of sibling rivalry, but now the insults slid off each other like water off a chocobo's back.
/]
[/ Before she could stop herself, Raine jogged after the blaze of red crossing the gloom of the graveyard, her first pair of heels sinking into the lawn, hindering her progress, but she was adamant not to lose him. She took off her shoes and carried them the rest of the way.
/]
[/ "Auron," she called, snagging him with her voice before he cleared the gate. A wind was flapping the bottom hem of his red cloak around his brown breeches and tousling the flashes of grey in his thick brown hair. When he spun around, Raine noticed his vague look of disappointment. She ignored it. Dropping to a granite bench, she fumbled with her shoes. "You came."
/]
[/ "I was concerned."
/]
[/ "About what?" she said stupidly, forcing her feet back into her heels. When Auron didn't answer, she figured it out. "Oh. Tidus." She said his name tartly.
/]
[/ Auron always wanted to know where Tidus was. He was always taking Tidus aside for little discussions, bringing him to places Raine wasn't allowed to go because it was "too dangerous."
/]
[/ "And you," he said, but it was without conviction and Raine didn't believe him.
/]
[/ "Come sit," she invited.
/]
[/ Auron gazed over to the street, giving the elusive impression he had someplace else to be. It was a look he used to give right before giving her mother some excuse as to why he couldn't stay for dinner or why he couldn't join them for a family outing. Raine didn't have any immediate uncles, unless Great-Uncle Cetan counted, but she'd only met him today for the first time. Auron was probably as close to an uncle as she would ever get.
/]
[/ She patted the cold granite. "Just for a minute."
/]
[/ After a brief internal struggle, he sat at the far end of the bench with slumped posture, resting his elbow on his knee. At least she would be safe from any looks of sympathy with Auron.
/]
[/ "Don't you hate funerals?" she asked him.
/]
[/ "They aren't my favorite," he agreed.
/]
[/ "Mine either." She was still fussing with her shoes. "Everyone will forget her in three days. So pointless."
/]
[/ "On the contrary. For instance, I learned what an avid juggler your mother is," Auron said humorlessly.
/]
[/ Raine gasped, but her smile cut short when Auron lifted a chiding eyebrow over his good eye.
/]
[/ "Oh, come on. That was funny. No one knows her well enough to tell the difference anyway. Most people don't even know how she died, although my great-aunt Naya says she died of a broken heart. How stupid is that?"
/]
[/ "You should take funerals more seriously," he said, diplomatically curving the conversation.
/]
[/ "Why should I? When I die, I want everyone to have a party."
/]
[/ "Hmph. Telling the priest lies about your mother is immature."
/]
[/ A stab of shame sidetracked her for a long moment and she was unable to shake the realization Auron thought she was juvenile. It made her want to cry for no reason.
/]
[/ "I'm surprised you didn't enlist the services of a Summoner," Auron said.
/]
[/ "Oh, yeah, they couldn't come." She grinned. "Too busy playing with Aeons in the Farplane with the fairies and unicorns and little green men who hide gold."
/]
[/ Auron glowered at her and she grimaced apologetically.
/]
[/ "Sorry. I forgot you take that stuff seriously."
/]
[/ "You're not afraid your mother will become an unsent?"
/]
[/ "I don't believe in zombies, either."
/]
[/ As he lowered his face, Raine swore she saw a ghost of a smile over his collar. "You don't believe in the Farplane, then?" he asked.
/]
[/ "I'll believe it when I see it."
/]
[/ He gave a yielding, sideways nod as if to say "Fair enough," but the hair rose on the back of her neck as she realized the gesture could also mean "Maybe someday."
/]
[/ His arm was tucked into the front of his cloak, like usual, with only his hand slinging out. She remembered when she was little, she used to make him take his hand out, and he did, so he could grudgingly participate in her games. She wondered fleetingly if he would be as benign about it now.
/]
[/ He turned his head a degree, as though he was looking at her with his missing eye. Occasionally, it piqued her interest, as though seeing it for the first time, but then she would forget it was there again until the next time. "Have you made living arrangements?"
/]
[/ "My uncle Cetan and aunt Naya are letting us stay with them. Until I finish school." Tidus was moving into their father's old houseboat at the end of the school year. He would start the next Blitzball season as the Zanarkand Abe's new rookie.
/]
[/ Auron's acknowledging nod was far away, distractedly rubbing his hands together and Raine could hear the scrape of his callouses. "They will keep you safe."
/]
[/ Something about the way he questioned her safety make her scalp prickle. "They live in C-South, though."
/]
[/ Auron made no effort to query about C-South.
/]
[/ "That's the Duggles' district," Raine went on. "Tidus says they play dirty."
/]
[/ "You should spend more time with your brother."
/]
[/ Raine made a face. "Why?"
/]
[/ Auron didn't say and the silence went uncomfortable fast. Raine rushed to fill it.
/]
[/ "I'm really glad you came. Not any of my friends came, not even my best friend. I mean, she said she was coming, but then this morning she said she can't come because her mother said she has to be there for family portraits, but that's not until later this afternoon and—"
/]
[/Auron's sunglasses were aimed at the street again.
/]
[/ "I'm sorry," she said, voice oozing with acid, "Am I boring you?"
/]
[/ "Indubitably," he said without hesitation.
/]
[/ Raine blinked. She wasn't even sure what indubitably meant, but it didn't sound very nice. Dejected, she realized why he looked so disappointed when he looked at her. He didn't want her to see him today. He didn't really even want to talk to her.
/]
[/ Raine decided to change the subject. "Does it hurt?"
/]
[/ He looked her straight on. "Does what hurt?"
/]
[/ Before she could think of what she was doing, Raine's hand was migrating curiously to his scar. Auron's gauntlet shot out of nowhere, squeezing her wrist until it pinched. She yelped in surprise and immediately wriggled to free her hand.
/]
[/ "Sorry," he grumbled and released her.
/]
[/ "No, I'm sorry," she whispered. Humiliated for her rudeness, she stared down at her trembling hand as she massaged her wrist, tears welling. She wasn't hurt, except for her feelings, and the sting of rejection was unbearable after the exhaustive day she was having. Her hand flew up to smother a sob and she jumped up before Auron noticed she might need more comfort than she was letting on.
/]
[/ "Raine…" he said. Perfectly timed to just miss her, Auron reached out.
/]
[/ "I'm sorry," she croaked, this time for something else entirely—for crying, for leaving suddenly, for everything.
/]
[/ Auron stood. "Raine."
/]
[/ At the gate, she hopped around to take off her shoes so she could get away more quickly.

Macalania Woods

"Get up!" Auron snapped at her. He shook his hand for her to grab it.

Raine slipped her hand into his and he seized it, yanked her to her feet, out of the way of the charging Chimera. The powerful serpent tail whipped the back of Raine's head as the fiend skated to a stop behind her and her nose bounced off Auron's chest. She dropped her rod in the grass and managed to stumble out of the way as she heard the metallic whisper of Auron's sword.

Stop calling it a sword. It's a katana.

"Stand back," he growled.

As the python lashed, Auron ducked and thrust his sword forward into the soft belly of the lion's body and twisted it. It collapsed, sliding off the blood-streaked blade, all of the heads flopping down with their tongues out. Auron was faster than he looked, but he was panting when he faced her, half his cloak hanging back over his shoulder to free up his range of motion. As he tried not to appear too proud of his overkill, Raine tried not to appear too impressed.

Making a vague presenting motion with his upturned hand, Auron said, "Send it."

Although it was the middle of the day, Macalania Woods was dark as night, lit only by nomadic Pyreflies, marbled pink and green globes of condensation, which cut through the muggy air like little balls of winter. Raine found herself moving into their path when one drew near to feel their cool relief on her sweaty skin, it was even better when there was a horde of them—it was like jumping into a cold spring—and worth every bit of Auron's scolding look. He'd been right about wearing light clothes and she didn't even need her coat, which she'd hung on a shimmery branch for the meantime, although the sweat stains under her arms were embarrassing and the hair that fell out of her garter was clinging damply to her face.

Sighing, put upon, she slogged over to the Enchanted Rod on the ground. "The Iguions were easier."

"The Iguions are below your level."

"Are you sure? I think they were too fast for you." Raine smiled wickedly as she recalled Auron chipping his sword through the glittery bark of a moon tree when a swarm of hopping Iguions got away from him, laughing at him in their lizard chatter. It was at that point Auron sourly declared she was moving on to Chimeras, solo beasts with heavy armor that made them sluggish. Raine knew he was just riled from the Iguions. Both their bruised egos quietly festered from the tense day, their patience for each other wearing paper thin. Raine needed just a few solitary minutes to reflect, but Auron didn't let her go far by herself, not in this world, where it seemed there was a fiend every ten steps.

"Send it," he said through his teeth. "Before the Pyreflies reanimate it."

Looping and swinging the hefty staff the way Auron had coached, Raine performed the steps like it showed in the book, but nothing was happening. Auron backed away, further than what seemed necessary, and she felt like a fool as she stopped to check for traces of the Pyrefly orbs. Instead, the droopy, veiny goat's ear jerked and the lion's tail undulated, striking the grass with a rustling whump.

"Now!" Auron shouted from far away.

"I know, I'm trying," she muttered and swayed through the steps faster.

She had sent an Iguion after only a couple tries, but Auron was a hard man to impress. If his impassively bored look was any indication, everybody and their mother could send an Iguion. She hated that she sought for his approval. She never needed it before.

Increasingly distracted by the lion's ragged breath coming through its teeth, Raine's heart began to drum against her ribs. The serpent head levitated drunkenly off the ground, flicking its tongue, its yellow eyes targeting her, reeling, preparing to strike…

…and a jet of Aqua Breath fanned the battle area. It sent Raine skidding backwards on her ass, but she was not the only one who was in Aqua Breath's range. Soaked, Auron appeared, his sword piercing the lion's body again. This time, he wrenched the blade upwards, breaking through the spine, and proceeded to hack off the heads.

Water dripped off the ends of Auron's hair, lying boyishly flat on his forehead, beads cohered to his glasses, and parts of his drenched cloak hung limp. "Why didn't you send it?"

Sticking the end of her staff in the grass, she leaned on it to catch her breath. "I tried. It's too hard." She could hear her own whine, but didn't care. She hated the sending dance. She was bad at it. Now she was soaked and crabby. "Let's go back to the Iguions."

"Absolutely not. You just need to work on the steps."

"I can't get the steps from a book. Can't you show me?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"Hmph."

He meant: "Not in your lifetime."

Popping her hand on her hip, she shrugged. "Well, I need to be shown."

"Surely a Blitzball cheerleader can pick up a couple sending steps," he scoffed.

"That was ten years ago. And it's leading cheers, not sending Pyreflies to the Farplane. If it was easy, you'd be doing it," she muttered.

Slanting his sword over his shoulder, his sunglasses targeted her hand, curled around the shaft of her staff, and promptly gave it an admonishing shake of his head.

"Something wrong?"

"What happened to the Nultide Ring I gave you?"

"It's too big. It keeps slipping off."

"That ring has no beneficial properties. Yet you still wear it."

She knew he meant her wedding ring. Raine shrugged. "It's pretty."

"You'll lose it."

"Would that make you happy?"

He shook the water out of his hair. "Hmph."

He meant: "Don't ask mindless questions."

Snatching the staff out of her hand, Auron held it horizontal with both hands as he passed it back to her. "Don't hold it in the ground like that. It ruins it."

Matching his hard look in a battle of pure ego, Raine refused the staff and they stood like statues, glints of stray pink Pyreflies passing in the reflection of his sunglasses. As usual, Raine conceded first and waved the staff closer.

"Fine. Go lure another one. The faster I send it, the faster we can beat Sin, the faster we can go home."

Pausing, Auron showed her his back, scanning the woods for more Chimeras.

Her stomach dropped. "I get to go home after, right?"

He didn't look at her.

Bracing the staff against her shoulder to give her arms a break, she said, "It's Sin, isn't it? He's the link between our worlds."

Auron stepped around to face her. "We need to talk."

"Look, I get it. Once Sin is gone, I can't go home. No worries. I'll make new friends here. They can't all be like Dona."

"It's not that."

Without taking his sword off his shoulder, Auron's bare arm circled around the back of her neck and tightened in an avuncular way, a rough callous snagging the thin fabric of her blouse as he displayed stoic comfort. Her face mashed gracelessly against his smooth leather cuirass and all she smelled was the leather conditioner, which had a faint, soothing scent of honey. Something tore deep in her and she knew it was worse than she thought. If there was one thing she knew about Auron, he didn't console. Their rare efforts at physical contact were generally few and far between.

Her father and her brother both died fighting Sin. Why did she think it would be different for her?

Next to them, the dead Chimera was already attracting Vespa Wasps, looking for a place to bury their eggs. Soon that would be her, a carcass in the Calm Lands with no one to send her.

"When?" She was only dimly aware Auron was as cold as a Pyrefly under his wet cloak.

"After you call the final Aeon."

Dona knew. Rin knew. Barthello knew.

"Everyone knew but me. They must think I'm so stupid."

"On the contrary. They think it's me who is stupid, for not telling you sooner."

She felt oddly weightless, an empty vacuum seeping inside her. Raine didn't want her funeral to be like her mother's, people only there out of obligation, and she didn't want a funeral like Tidus', either, a circus of acquaintances trying to climb some sort of social ladder.

"Will there be a party when I die?"

Raine felt the jolt of Auron's body first and heard the clatter of his katana second. He ripped the staff out of her hands as he threw it down on the ground next to his sword, where they were definitely both in danger of being "ruined." Scooping her in both arms, he gave her a long squeeze, crushing the air out of her lungs as his unshaven cheek pressed against the top of her head. Cool water droplets from the ends of his hair landed on her neck and shoulders. Hugs did not make her feel safe, but this one came close.

"Of course," Auron rasped, and Raine sensed sincerity in the catch of his voice.

"A big one?"

"Not nearly as big as it should be."