This is my first "story" on this site. Reviews and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. This may end up being at least a two-shot depending on feedback, and the hectic schedule I'm about to have. I also do not have a beta, so anything that I or Microsoft spell-check didn't catch is in there.
Happy reading.
The others had decided to revisit Besaid after the incident in Zanarkand. I could not exactly object to such a request; the whole party looked like they could use a rest, especially Yuna, Lulu, and Wakka. Their faith had been shattered in the halls of Yunalesca's former haunt. Tidus was not affected, not surprising since he had no faith in Yevon in the first place, and of course, I had known the truth, but Rikku seems different now.
Perhaps the knowledge that Yuna would no longer sacrifice herself needlessly lifted the burden of trying to save her cousin off of her small shoulders. The strong Al Bhed who sacrificed so much, too much: home, family, friends; now had the time and room to take everything in.
Where was she? I was watching the others in the village, seeing them genuinely smile and laugh for the first time since I had joined the pilgrimage, most likely the first time since Yuna had become a summoner. This time would be good for them. However, the thought remained: where was Rikku?
My thoughts seem to have strayed to her more and more as this pilgrimage has progressed. I couldn't truly…
Don't even think about it. She is both too young and too alive for you Auron.
I bid my farewell to the others, and began a moonlit stroll to the beach. I knew the salty air of the ocean would clear my head, or at least I hoped it would. Sir Auron, the Legendary Guardian, should not be thinking about an adolescent Al Bhed girl in that way. Yevon, I could hear the gossip now.
As I approached the beach, I heard something strange; though I had not encountered any fiends on the way here, I knew that they liked to ambush anyone out after dark. I slowly drew my sword, softly so I would not attract attention to myself.
As I near-silently approached the beach, the sound became less of a threat and more of a song, and I finally found the answer to my earlier question.
She was dancing on the beach, humming a tune of her own design.
I was enthralled watching her; blue jesses streaming behind her, the embodiment of youth in her carefree movement. Her face was lit up in a way I had never seen before, dazzling to my one eye. I snuck into the shadows of a small outcropping of rock and studied her every move. She moved with a grace I did not know she possessed. In battle or around the group she was all angles; elbows, knees, wrists, even though she was agile, and quick. Nevertheless, dancing she was graceful and lithe, all of her angles softer somehow. Her regularly, almost gawky, physique had changed to become willowy and pliant, moving to her soft melodious humming.
She is not yours Auron, nor will she ever be. She deserves someone youthful and cheerful, someone that would hang off of tree branches and gallivant around just to attract her attention, not someone as old or as lifeless as you, in either personality or actuality.
I hmphed to myself and continued to observe her. Her bare toes dug into the sand with each spin, her blonde hair flew out around her, looking more white than blonde in the moonlight; she must have taken it out of her constant perky ponytail. She ran her fingers through it, at ease. Her green spiral eyes were closed, for which I was grateful. She continued to spin and spin. Then, suddenly, she stopped, facing away from my hiding place.
She swiftly turned around, her vivid jade eyes intent in the shadows where I was hiding.
"I know you're hiding over there, ya know. I can feel your eyes on me."
I remained quiet, thinking of something that Sir Auron would say, rather than complimenting her talent and poise, as I wanted to.
"There are fiends about, and you're dancing around barefoot?"
They were hard words, but true ones. She looked at me and pouted; such an expression should never have to grace her face, and I loathed myself for having to put it there.
"I know how to protect myself! And what are you doing wandering around all alone, hmm?"
What was I going to tell her, I went off hoping to find you? I had no decent (or sane) reply.
"I could ask the same of you."
I thought I heard her mutter "meanie" under her breath, and I smiled behind my cowl.
She didn't answer me, but instead looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Will you dance with me?"
I raised one eyebrow in question. She elaborated, "I've seen you practice with that big ole heavy sword of yours, and I've seen you fight. I know you can dance too."
She was right, though I would never admit it aloud. Truly, I wanted to; I could feel it in every part of my body, singing in my veins. I wanted to hold her close.
I slowly approached her, and held out my right hand in silent acquiescence, all the while thinking of what a terrible idea it was. She grinned and took my hand, placing it on her hip. I slid my left hand out of its makeshift sling and gently grasped her other hand.
She began to hum her little tune again, and I led her around and around in a simple dance, careful not to accidently step on her bare feet. She closed the distance between us little by little until we were touching. I stopped, and she looked up at me with shining eyes. I had to stop this before she thought that...
She kissed me. In the split second I had thought to step away and put my cold demeanor back in place, she had risen on her toes, shoved my high collar out of the way and kissed me. I knew I should stop her, but the sensible part of my mind had silenced itself at the first touch of her lips. I kissed her back, my hands sliding around her to pull her closer to me, tracing their way up her back, resting near her neck to twirl her hair (and those pesky feathers) through my fingers. She reached up trying to slide her fingers through my hair, letting out an annoyed sigh that reverberated through our mouths when she encountered the tie holding it back. I finally came back to my senses and quickly stepped away from her when she broke off for air.
"That…should not have happened."