A Dream From the Shadows
Chapter 3

"Hey, Auron!" Wakka yelled. "You missed one exciting game, ya?"
"I'm sure it was great. Sorry I'm not much of a fan." Auron smiled. "Where's the trophy?"
"I left it back with the guys in the locker room, ya? They're still celebrating, but Rikku said you had something to tell us."
"Actually, yes. Now that you're all here, I'd like to introduce my old friend, Traum."
Traum stepped forward. He greeted everyone as he went down the line. As he came to Lulu, he stopped. He bent down and kissed her hand, and then threw her a wink. She scoffed and quickly drew her hand back. He smirked again.
"Nice to meet all of you. I'm sure Auron's told you a lot about me." There was a silence.
"Actually," Lulu spoke up, "he's never mentioned you before."
Traum paused and looked at Auron. Auron shook his head. Traum nodded and continued. "Well, in any case, I won't bore you with history. That would take much too long. Instead, I'll summarize it for you. A long time ago, even before Lord Braska's pilgrimage, Auron and I worked together. We did whatever jobs paid. We were essentially mercenaries. But that's such an ugly word, and that's all behind us."
He paused, looking at Auron, but addressing the group. "Yes, he was so young back then..." Traum trailed off and realized everyone was staring blankly at him. "What? What's wrong?" he asked.
Auron whispered something to him. Traum smacked his forehead. "Of course! You're all thinking that I couldn't be that old. I must look, what, twenty?" A few of them nodded. The rest just stood there. "And now you think I'm either crazy or drunk?"
Lulu answered, "Or maybe both."
"That'd be my guess," added Tidus.
"No," broke in Kimahri. When he spoke, everyone listened. "Kimahri hear story as little Ronso. Man live for hundred years, never get old. Have strength of hundred Ronso, speed of hundred chocobo."
"No way," Wakka refused. "That's just a legend."
Rikku stood there, listening. She decided to speak. "No, Kimahri's right." The others stared at her, wondering how she knew. "You haven't seen what this guy can do. He flipped Auron straight onto the bar with one hand!"
"I don't know how the Al Bhed do things, Rikku," Wakka joked, "but aren't you a little young to be drinking?"
A few of them laughed. Rikku decided to show them proof. She timidly walked over between Auron and Traum. "You'll see," she warned.
Suddenly, she threw a punch straight at Traum's chest. In an instant she was facing everyone. Her right arm was pinned behind her back, and she could feel the cold metal on her throat. She grimaced in pain. Everyone gasped at what they had just seen.
Rikku tried to free her arm, but the more she fought, the more it hurt. She felt a hot breath on her left cheek.
"If you wanted to get closer," Traum teased, "all you had to do was ask." He looked up to see Auron.
"That's *enough*, Traum," he warned.
Traum sheathed the knife. He added, "You'd be wise not to try that again, little lady." He finally released her.
"Now do you believe Kimahri's story?" Rikku asked, rubbing her throat.
"That was...amazing," Tidus said, eyes wide.
"Rikku, are you alright?" Lulu asked, rubbing her shoulder for her.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Rikku replied. "At least I proved my point."
Lulu pointed a question at Traum. "Was that really necessary?"
"I'm sorry. But getting punched isn't exactly my idea of fun," he smirked.
"Lady Yuna," Lulu explained, "if we can expect more of this kind of behavior..."
Auron interrupted her. "I will take full responsibility for his actions."
"That's very noble of you, Sir Auron," Yuna replied. "But I was hoping he would become responsible for himself *and* for me."
Auron nodded. He knew what this usually meant.
Yuna cleared her throat. "Sir Traum, I would like you to be my guardian." She smiled, awaiting his reply.
"Well, Lady Summoner, that's very kind, but..." Auron grabbed his arm. "I'd love to," he finished, smiling.
"Then it's settled. I hope you weren't planning on staying in Luca long," she inquired.
"Not at all," he cheerfully replied. "So, where to next?"
Auron headed slowly for the door. "The Calm Lands. Let's go." He led the way out. The others followed. Traum waited by the door. Rikku was last. She tried to get past, but he stood in front of her.
"Come on, we've got to go. Get out of my way!" she commanded him, still rubbing her shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to be so rough." He patted her on the shoulder. "Don't take it personally. Come on, let's go."
Rikku rolled her eyes and continued rubbing her shoulder. She stopped walking. "What the...?" she thought. The pain was gone. "No way," she said to herself.
"Hey!" she yelled. "Wait for me!"