Disclaimer: don't own them.
Here's chapter 4.
Enjoy!
Mood swings
I feel crappy. We just spent weeks getting through that stupid field of boredom, and then an entire day in that super-creepy fiend-infested cave. Let me tell you, poisonous fumes aren't very good for your mood, and dead Summoners attacking you aren't either. Plus, we had to give a huge sum of money to that overgrown samurai-aeon. And we're going to start climbing Mt. Gagazet tomorrow.
Okay, so I'm extremely tired, dirty, smelly, sweaty, broke, my hair's a mess, my muscles feel like a herd of Shoopuffs trampled over me, and, to top it off, I'm having my monthly bleedings, so I'm getting awfully painful stomach-ache-waves every few moments.
Ugh, why me?
We're walking away from that horrible cave, thank machina, but we are walking. Gotta work on that. I decide to whine, I'm good at that.
"Ooh, my feet hurt! Can we please stop? I don't think I can take another step."
…
Silence.
What, they're ignoring me? Seriously? They're seriously ignoring me.
Grr.
Bunch of meanies.
Actually, now that I look closely, I notice everyone looks as horrible as I feel.
Tidus is walking so slowly, he might as well be standing still. He's got some nasty bags under his eyes, too.
Yunie's using her staff as a walking stick, leaning heavily on it for support. Her hair is sticking to her face, and let's just say it's not too springy anymore.
Wakka is mumbling to himself, his eyes closed. Man, I think he's sleeping while walking. Lucky him.
Lulu is dragging that dress along with her like it's a pack of led, breathing heavily. Well, it's her fault for wearing that thing.
Really, the only ones that don't seem tired are Auron and Kimahri. Wait, make that only Auron. Kimahri's tail is being dragged across the ground. He looks like a lost kitty, with his drooping little ears. Cute!
…
Okaaay, that good-mood-peak didn't last long; severe lapse of pain courses through my stomach, and I growl loudly.
Cred, now everyone is staring at me. Even Auron turned around. My hands are holding my belly, and I'm bent over slightly in pain. I look up at the party-leader with a pleading look on my pale face.
"Please, we really need to stop. Please?"
Wow, my voice sounds pathetic. Auron is looking at me, his face hidden behind the cowl and sunglasses, but I can tell he's worried. The others are just staring at Auron hopefully.
"We'll reach a stream within ten minutes. We'll set up camp there.", he answers curtly, and he starts walking again.
I nod gratefully, as do the others, and we start following him again. My muscles are screaming at me, and I promise them quietly I'll use my special massage oil on them later.
I sigh in relief when I see the stream, and it turns into a gasp when I see what a beautiful place it is. The stream is rather large, nearly a river, with the clear water running peacefully. Lush trees surround the area, and birds sing merrily in the distance.
I collapse and hug the ground, nearly crying in happiness. I hear Wakka and Tidus do the same beside me.
Ooh, this piece of ground is just perfect, I think I'll never get up again. My eyes close, and I don't think I'll be able to open them anytime soon. I'm about to be sucked into a peaceful slumber, when Auron's voice – usually always welcome – wrenches me back to the real world.
"All right, that's enough. We will set up camp now, then we'll each take turns in the stream to bathe. There's a private spot a little farther away. Then you can sleep."
I grumble slightly, before realising bathing doesn't seem like a bad idea. I did promise my muscles oil, after all.
So, with our last bit of energy we set up camp together. I think my body's set itself on automatic pilot, 'cause I'm totally not paying attention to what I'm doing, but no one has stopped me yet, so I think I'm doing good.
When we're done, we pick straws to see who gets the private spot first. Yunie and Lulu mysteriously pick the shortest straws, and they're exactly the same size (they so used magic!), so they get to go first. And you know what? I picked the longest friggin' straw, so I'm last.
Grr.
This is just awful. My mood got a little better when we arrived here, but it's hitting rock-bottom all over again, you know?
I sit next to the fire, staring into it miserably with a defeated look on my face. The belly-aching isn't helping much either. I lose track of time and my surroundings, wallowing in self-pity. I scowl heavily at anyone who tries to talk to me, not even bothering to see who it is.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I flinch and growl at the same time. I look up to see Tidus smiling uncertainly at me.
"Uhm, everyone's done, Rikku, you can go now. Do you need directions?"
Oh, thank all the machina in the world.
"No, I'm fine. Goodnight, Tidus!", I manage, before getting up hastily. I take my bag and walk towards the place the others went to a while back. It's a twenty-minute walk, but the thought of getting clean makes me take the steps.
You know, back Home I used to love getting dirty, but that was with machina grease and desert sand. This is just mud and fiend-blood. Big difference, people.
I gasp when I finally get there. This place is beautiful! The trees grow in a way that surrounds the area completely, yet they let the moonlight in from above. The light makes the clear water sparkle invitingly. I strip in record-time, and I walk into the water, sighing when the cool liquid surrounds my aching body.
Ah, pure bliss.
I dunk my head under water, wetting my hair and entire body with the crystal water thoroughly. I come back up, and the contrast between the cool water and the warm evening air makes me sigh in pleasure. I scrub the grime and smellyness off, and it drifts away downstream, leaving me nice and clean once again.
I walk back to the shore and take a little bottle from my bag. I walk back into deeper water, letting it surround me.
I carefully pop the lid from the blue bottle, savouring the wonderful smell that comes from the liquid inside. It cost me a lot to get it, too. Energy, that is. I stole it from Rin's Travel Agency in Macalania.
'Macalania's Finest', it says in big, bold, sparkly letters. How can any thief resist that? Seriously.
I squeeze a little clear goodyness on my hand and massage it into my shoulder carefully. I let out a yelp at the painful yet somewhat relieving result. I close my eyes and try to relax, when suddenly I hear a familiar gruff voice from the shore. I yelp in surprise, my eyes shoot open and I nearly drop my treasured oil.
"Rikku, are you hurt somewhere? Where does that blood come from?"
…
Really, you're standing in waist-deep water - wet, naked, and rubbing oil over your body - and the first thing your lover sees when he walks in on you is the bloody rag you left on the shore.
Legendary Guardian or not, that is so not cool.
"Auron! You scared me! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Pff. Meanie.
"I wasn't sneaking, you just weren't paying attention. Now answer, are you hurt somewhere?"
I think it's rather weird that he can be concerned about me and scold me at the same time. You gotta be Auron for that.
"No! I just… well… I'm…uhm… I mean I'm… you know?" I point at myself, then at the rag sheepishly.
Yeah, that should do it. I mentally slap myself.
"I see."
He does?
"I'm sorry, Rikku, I wouldn't have pushed you if I knew you weren't feeling well."
I decide to forgive him, because he apologised so nicely and because I note he's only wearing his pants. Who can stay mad at that? A slight grin forms on my lips, and I hold out the bottle for him to see.
"Auron, will you do my back?", I ask slyly.
"As you wish.", he answers all gentleman-like, and I start feeling fuzzy inside.
He drops his pants and steps into the water. He's walking towards me, gloriously naked, and my heart starts beating faster. The moonlight defines every muscle and scar of his impressive chest.
Sigh.
Stare.
Where am I again?
When he reaches me, he leans down to kiss me on the cheek, before walking around me. His arm sneaks around me from behind, and he holds out his hand, palm open, in front of me.
I wonder dully what he wants, when he whispers in my ear gently: "The oil, Rikku."
Oh, right.
I snap out of my daze and squeeze some in his hand, blushing slightly, and he rubs it together in his hands, before putting his large hands on my shoulders. He starts massaging the knots out gently, and I let out appreciative moans. He shifts his callused hands from my shoulders to my back and he continues there.
"I don't remember you paying for this.", he says quietly, amused.
"Me neither." I answer in between moans, and he chuckles lightly.
I'm getting slightly drowsy, and I lean my head back against his shoulder. His hands move from my back to my waist to my lower belly, his rough fingers massaging my sore stomach ever so gently.
I lean back further against him, my back pressed into his rock-hard chest. My eyes close and I sigh in relief as the pain in my stomach ebbs away slowly but surely.
My warrior's hands travel over my belly, until suddenly he stops. I open my eyes and look at his unmoving hands disappointedly. They are palm-up again, so I squirt some oil in them hastily.
His hands continue their way up, and they slide over my breasts softly. My breath hitches in my throat, and I feel my nipples harden under his skilful fingers, his hands rubbing and massaging my sensitive flesh. My heart is beating like crazy, and he can probably feel it thumping in my chest. My tiredness is long-gone, replaced by a vast amount of lust and passion.
"Auron…", I mumble, my voice a needy whisper.
He leans his mouth to my shoulder and places butterfly-kisses there, his stubbles scratching my sensitive skin lightly. I arch my back at the feeling, and one of his hands moves its way from my breasts down my belly again.
It doesn't stop on my lower stomach this time, but he trails his fingers lower lightly. Goosebumps appear on my skin, and I let out a needy groan, desperately wanting his fingers to continue.
His hand reaches between my legs, and I gasp in pleasure. His thumb rubs my clitoris achingly slowly, his other fingers stroking my folds. I moan loudly, not even bothering to try to keep my voice down.
He flicks his fingers in a way that makes me arch my back and beg in a whimper, and I buck my hips against his hand desperately.
He continues to pleasure me, and I grip his arm with my empty hand, my nails pressing in his skin. I feel his erection pressing in my lower back, which makes me throw the stupid bottle to the shore.
My now free hand reaches behind me, grasping him. His hand stops and he pulls it back, his fingers gripping my sides. He twirls me around and kisses me roughly, and I wrap my arms and legs around him, hungrily answering the kiss.
He carries me to the shore, where he lays us down on the ground, our lips never parting. He enters me in one quick stroke, patience not really on either of our lists right now. I moan in ecstasy, my legs tightening around him. He runs his rough hand over my thigh, the other one tangling itself in my hair.
Our tongues wrestle, and our sounds of pleasure are muffled by each other's lips. My head is spinning, my heart is pounding, my breathing ragged when we break apart reluctantly for air.
I buck my hips to meet his, Auron plunging deeper inside of me with every thrust. I gasp and moan, the rhythm he sets leaving me breathless. I arch my back, screaming in pleasure, as he makes the pressure between my legs explode with one final thrust, and he moans my name in my ear as he releases inside me.
We pause a moment to steady our breathing and look I look into his eye, Auron staring back at me affectionately. He smiles and runs his fingers over my cheek gently, brushing the wet strands of hair out of my face.
I smile up at him brightly, my eyes sparkling, and I reach up to twirl some of his greying hairs between my fingers.
We stay like that, as one, just basking in each other's presence. I feel like I'm dreaming, Auron always able to spark a feeling of utter peace inside me.
He gets up and pulls me with him after a while, and we walk into the water again. We bathe together, our hands caressing each other's skin. I take every chance I get to touch him, and he doesn't let go of my hand for a second.
We return to the shore, dressing again, me stealing glances at Auron every few seconds. He catches me every time, and I look away shyly, blushing.
How come he never blushes, anyway?
When I'm finished he puts his strong arms around me, and I sigh in contentment. I bury my head in his shoulder, suddenly feeling tired again, but in a good way.
"Auron?"
"Yes?"
"Can we stay here tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"I don't want to leave this beautiful place yet."
That's not the real reason, and he knows it. Zanarkand is getting awfully close.
"All right then, my thief."
I look up at him, and he smiles at the tired look on my face.
"Sleep, I will carry you back."
I nod and wrap my arms and legs around him again, my head on his shoulder, and I smile as he manages to pick up my bag with me sticking to him like glue.
He puts his arms around me and starts walking towards camp, and I doze off slightly on his shoulder. In no time at all we reach the others, who are all sleeping in their tents.
Auron lays me down in my tent, his fingers stroking my cheek softly. My eyes feel like led, and they close almost instantly.
The last thing I hear is a soft "I love you", before sleep takes over completely.
Hope you liked it! I hope Rikku isn't too OoC. I mean, she can't be happy all the time, right?
It took a little longer than expected to write this one, but I'm happy with the results.
Thank you, reviewers!!
I cherish your opinions more than anything. Suggestions, tips, requests, anything else? Just click the cute little button below. I could use some inspiration.
AmazonTurk: I hope this one made you cheer as well:P
Ilovefluff: Cowl, thank you! It has a nice ring to it, I like it. Thanks a lot!!
Jem TiersThanks! I'm glad you liked it. I hope you liked chapter 4 as well.