Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X, but I do own my characters and my creatures that I've added into the story.
In this Chapter: Cynyr's discovery and Auron's wake up call...
Wake Up Call
All sound returned. The lightening stuck, the thunder rumbled, the rain came down a little harder. It was as if everything had paused for only a second...just so I could hear that loud silence that came from within Auron's chest.
I felt his hand slide a little away from my waist and I slowly came out of revere.
"Cynyr…" He began and I realized that I was still standing there like a dummy, practically holding onto him as I stood in silent shock. I quickly pushed myself off him and kept my head down as I fiddled with my hair and tried to regain my composure.
"Sorry." I said quickly as I began to chew on my bottom lip. Auron continued to stand next to me and I could feel his burning gaze on me. He was probably trying to figure out what was wrong, but I would never tell, because it was to hard to even admit to myself.
"Are you alright?" Auron began. "You weren't hit were you?" I shook my head, still keeping my head down and staying silent for the most part. Auron finally gave up and began to walk away and I slowly followed.
I couldn't hear anything…nothing, nothing at all. I thought in awe. Maybe I'm overreacting. His breast plate could have muffled the sound. That's why I didn't hear it. I tried to tell myself, but to no avail.
Well…maybe…I didn't have my ear pressed hard enough against his chest- no maybe it's because I wasn't listening for it so I didn't hear anything. I tried over and over to reason with myself with a logical explanation, but it was slowly failing.
It was what all humans did. When you got into an unexpected and confusing situation you were always trying to find a logical reason to the reason why and what. And that's what I'm doing now.
Don't forget…you are human, Cynyr. Ida said from inside my head, reminding me like always. I sighed. But why? If he doesn't have a heart beat…then he has no heart. I was slowly coming to the obvious and most logical answer. And if he has no heart…then he's-
I couldn't bring myself to say it, much less think it. Then, I remembered what Seymour had said back in Guadosalm; how he had referred to Auron being from the Farplane. It all made sense now and my eyes grew wide with the realization.
Suddenly, I stopped. Something had caught my attention. A noise from somewhere far off. Why hasn't anyone else heard? I heard Auron's footsteps stop now, and he turned to look at me.
"Why have you stopped?" I turned my head in his direction as I continued to listen.
"I hear something." I said quietly. Up ahead the others had stopped as well and began to walk back to where Auron stood.
"What's going on?" Wakka asked.
"I hear something…and it's coming closer." I replied in the same tone of voice. The others quieted as they, to, began to listen.
"I don't hear anything." Tidus exclaimed.
"Shh!" I shot back. He immediately shut up and I walked past the group. They turned to watch me and as I continued to walk I could hear the sound getting louder.
"It's a fiend…" I said slowly, "but there's more than one."
"How can you tell?" Tidus asked skeptically.
"Don't forget who you're talking to."
"Yeah, but you're blind." He said bluntly.
"Exactly."
I smiled as I withdrew my sword and the others followed. Then, without turning I shouted, "behind you!" Everyone turned and in three seconds flat there was a large fiend running towards them while another ran towards me.
"They're on all sides!" I exclaimed as I heard others coming from the left and right, growls and the sound of electricity snapping as they neared. Everyone scattered, yelling one another's name as they took their positions and waited for the time to attack.
The one in front of me was snapping with electricity and making sounds I didn't know was possible to come from a fiend.
"I've got the Aerouge, ya!" I heard Wakka shout from behind me.
"Whoa!"
"Watch out!"
As I heard shouts from behind me I ran and swung at the fiend that gurgled and growled in front of me. It coughed like it had inhaled water as it became angry with my attack and began to sound like a giant electric wire emerged in water.
"What the hell is front of me?" I asked as I warded off the fiend's attack.
"A Melusine." Lulu replied as she came up beside me. "It resists magic." I ran towards the Melusine again and attacked twice before jumping back. It growled and spat before coming at me again. I lifted my sword, the point aimed at the fiend. Before it could back down it landed against my sword, its body sliding down the blade with a sickening sound.
Lulu turned away in disgust just as the fiend began to disperse into hundreds of Pyerflies.
"How you people can do that without grossing out, I will never know." Lulu muttered before walking quickly away from me. I smiled to myself and then turned to listen for another fiend and for another opening.
"Cynyr!" Tidus shouted as he ran from his fiend and I immediately took his place. The fiend attacked Wakka, who was standing beside me, then attacked me. I felt a sharp pain run through my body like electricity and clenched my fists from the pain
Gripping my sword tighter, I heard Wakka give his attack to the fiend then I attacked next, ignoring the pain in my body. Already weakened from Tidus's sword, it died instantly and I hurried out of line for the others to finish up the rest.
Yuna immediately came to me, while I stood out of the way, and healed me. When the pain subsided I turned to her with a smile.
"Thanks Yuna."
"You're fighting so hard."
"I have to…" I shrugged, "I can't let the loss of my sight get in the way."
"Just remember that you're still my guardian, no matter what happens. And you're my friend." I nodded with a small smile and then she left to heal the others.
After the battle was over and we were walking back down the dreary road we stopped abruptly from the sound of lightening that struck very close by. I jumped from the sound and I heard Yuna gasp.
"Whoa!" Tidus exclaimed as he took a step back.
"Wow, that was a close one!" Wakka laughed.
"Stop kidding around." Lulu immediately said as she passed by him, causing Wakka to quickly shut up, and in a serious tone he replied, "yes ma'ma." I smiled with amusement at this then turned at the sound of Rikku laughing quietly behind us. Everyone turned to face her as well.
"Mmm, what's wrong?" Wakka asked first, but Rikku continued to laugh.
"Heh heh heh, you're giving me the creeps!" Tidus exclaimed and then lightening struck again, causing Rikku to fall to her knees and scream. Ugh! Not this crap again! Unexpectedly, she began to crawl towards us and grabbed hold of Tidus's leg as he looked down at her in surprise.
"Hey, whoa!"
"I wanna go home!" Rikku exclaimed.
Oh, Lord love a duck!
"I hate lightening! I hate thunder! Lets go rest over there…please?" Rikku was apparently pointing at something behind us and I could only stand there guessing at what it was.
"This storm never stops." Auron pointed out. "It's better to cross quickly."
"I know, but…just for a little while?" Rikku pleaded. Tidus laughed lightly to himself before turning to Auron.
"Well, what now?"
Auron immediately sighed, but I wasn't sure if he sighed in defeat or in annoyance. Either way we continued to walk on through the Plains, apparently getting closer to whatever Rikku was pointing at. Could it be another Travel Agency? Hmm…I didn't think of that. Rin's face immediately flashed through my mind and I remembered what he had said back on the highroad. I wonder if he'll be there. I mused.
As we began to pass the Inn Rikku stopped and we continued to walk on by.
"Pretty please! Just a few minutes!" Rikku called after us. We continued to ignore her and kept walking. Even so, she persisted.
"I'm scared of lightening! Lets rest, please…pretty please!"
Ugh! Her voice is becoming sooooo annoying! I'm surprised Auron hasn't said anything yet.
"I'm to young to die!"
This is getting ridiculous.
Still, Rikku persisted and finally, after having enough of her whining, Auron stopped.
"Fine," he began harshly, "we'll rest here." As we began to walk back towards Rikku I heard him mutter, "she's worse than the storm."
Once we were inside Yuna immediately went up to the desk to ask for a room. Then, she left quickly with her key. She must be really tired… I stifled a yawn as I found myself getting tired as well, but I jumped at the sound of Rikku's scream as lightening crashed from outside.
You'd think Rin would've put up sound proof walls for this place.
I took my sword, still in its sheath, and leaned it against the wall behind me. I could hear the voices of Tidus and Lulu as they began to talk to Rikku, then, I heard footsteps coming from down the hall. They stopped and the person began to speak.
"Nice to meet you again," Rin's voice echoed through the room, "welcome to the Rin Travel Agency."
It's all thanks to Rikku.
As Rin rounded the front desk he spotted me almost immediately.
"Ah, Cynyr." He walked up to me and I turned my head in his direction.
"How are you?"
I smiled a small smile. "A lot has happened since we last met." I admitted.
"Yeah, you'll never believe what happened to Cynyr." Tidus exclaimed suddenly, walking up to join our conversation. Ahem…I don't remember inviting you over, Tidus.
"It's almost hard to say, Rin." I began slowly. He looked up at me and I knew that by now he was starting to figure out why I wasn't looking him in the eye.
"Do tell."
"While on the road towards Guadosalm I was hit in the back of the head by one of Ochu's arms…so, when I awoke I realized I was blind." Rin sucked in a sharp breath.
"Goodness, I guess that was a huge shock to you."
"Yeah, but she can still fight like she used to!" Tidus added in. I smiled a small smile.
"Well, I'm not as good as I was…but I'm decent."
"Don't sell yourself so short." Lulu suddenly spoke up. I didn't realize that everyone was gathered around me for story time! Gosh, geez… I turned my head in her direction and I heard her cross her arms.
"Knowing you I'm sure you can fight just as good. You'll have to show me sometime." Rin said then, and I heard him smile. Wow…my hearing is getting a lot more sharper. I returned the smile.
"It was all thanks to Auron and the others. He trained me to fight again…everyone had faith in me when I didn't. I'm glad they did." Now, I heard everyone, that was standing around me, smile.
"Yeah...you learned pretty fast." Tidus mused.
"Back when you lived at Home you were really great with a sword." Rin began.
"You bet!" Tidus exclaimed. "Before she lost her sight she beat both Wakka and I in a row, but then she lost to old stick in the mud over there." I began to laugh at this as well as Rikku and Tidus.
"He means Auron." I explained and Rin chuckled.
"But it was a pretty good fight. I thought that Cynyr would win again." Rikku chimed in as thunder rumbled above us. She didn't even hear it. If only she could be this occupied during the trip through this place.
"I'd like to hear more about this little dual you had with three men." Rin said with a smile.
"She managed to throw my sword out of my grasp with hers." Tidus put in.
"She did the same to Wakka." Rikku added.
"Hmm? I heard my name?" Wakka suddenly said as he began to walk over.
"We're talking about how you lost to Cynyr in that sword fight." Tidus explained with a smirk.
"Yeah, well did you hear how Tidus lost to her to?" Wakka asked with crossed arms. Tidus was about to say something, but Wakka continued.
"Yeah, she let him take a hit to her first and she easily sidestepped him while he just cut through air like a newbie!" He laughed.
"Hey!" Tidus exclaimed. Rikku giggled while the rest of us began to laugh as well.
"Is this true?" Rin asked me with a chuckle. I nodded.
"He had me on the ground at one point, but then I knocked him off his feet."
"Yeah, well I've gotten a lot better." Tidus defended. I smiled.
"We shall see."
He snorted.
"I'll definitely win against you now! You're blind, there's no way I could lose this time." I laughed at this.
"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I can't hear."
"What does that have anything to do with it?" He scoffed.
"I'll give you an example. Just a few seconds ago I could hear your smile." Tidus was silent a moment as the others laughed lightly at him.
"Yeah, well, can you hear me blink?"
I laughed.
"Maybe." Tidus snorted and crossed his arms.
"I would love to see this dual between you two." Rin said with a chuckle, then he shook his head. "Alas, I may not see you again after tonight." I nodded in agreement as I heard Lulu's skirts rustling and then her footsteps as she walked to the front desk.
"But hey, maybe we will meet again?" Tidus shrugged and I heard Rikku yawn.
"Maybe, but we shouldn't count on it." I pointed out.
"Well," Rin began with a small sigh, "I better let you all get your rest. You have a long journey ahead of you." We nodded and he began to leave as well as Tidus. I decided to go ahead and get my room. I was tired and really wanted to sleep.
Once I had found my room I just stood there against my door as I let the peaceful silence wash over me and I sighed a long sigh. In that silence I was suddenly hit by all the events that had happened to me all at once. It was like one huge explosion that went off inside my chest, and it was so much for my heart to take that it began to spill out of my eyes and run down my cheeks.
I don't understand! Why am I crying?
I wiped at my eyes with frustration then walked more into the room to find my bed. It was on my right and I slumped down like a pile of jelly onto the soft mattress. The tears kept coming. Oh, what the hell. It feels good to cry right now!
So, as I let myself cry I began to take my armor off slowly and carefully before setting them down on the floor where I could find them the next morning.
Then, I took my comb out and began to brush through my hair. This has been the longest day of my life! When I finally finished I stopped crying and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I need a shower. I thought as I got up and started for the other side of the room, feeling along the wall for the bathroom door.
Just as I had reached the door, my hand on the knob, I turned to the sound of a knock on my bedroom door.
"Yes?" I replied as I rubbed at my eyes again, praying that my face wasn't tear streaked. The door opened and the person entered before closing the door behind them.
"Cynyr, I was just coming by to give this back." I smiled a small smile at the sound of Rin's voice and awkwardly stood there. I didn't know what he had in his hands so I couldn't say thanks or anything.
"Oh! Sorry." Rin said quickly as he realized his mistake.
"It's your sword. You left it in the lobby." He explained before setting it against the wall near the bed.
"Oh, I left it- I'm glad you brought it by, Rin. Thank you." I nodded as I began to walk forward. Rin smiled, but then it faded. I stopped as he walked towards me.
"Cynyr…have you been crying?" My heart skipped as I quickly turned a little away from him and rubbed at one of my eyes nervously.
"N-no. I was just-" I stopped as he took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him.
"What's wrong, Cynyr?" He asked softly as he reached up and pulled some of my hair out of my face. I shook my head and took a step back and he let got of me.
"No…it's nothing, Rin. Don't worry about it."
As I said this I was suddenly hit by the memory of Auron and his none beating heart. Pain surged through chest and an invisible hand squeezed my heart tightly. I could feel the tears welling up again but I took a deep breath, willing myself not to cry.
"Something is wrong."
I shook my head.
"Was it anything I did?" Rin asked with a shrug, obviously wanting to help. I shook my head again.
"Rin…there's nothing you can do. It's okay…it's just one of those days." I explained with a shrug. Rin was silent for a while and I could feel his gaze on me. Don't even think about trying to kiss me again.
"Are you sure?" Rin asked softly and I nodded as I held my elbow with a hand.
"Alright…" Rin finally said as he began to turn away, but as he reached the door I stopped him.
"Rin?" He turned and I hesitated a moment.
"Thanks."
"For what?" I shrugged a shoulder as I replied. "For…bringing the sword over…and for worrying about me." Rin smiled.
"You're welcome. Good night."
"Night." Then he left and I finally turned to get the shower I needed.
After I had showered, combed through my hair and braided it I jumped into the bed and snuggled up under the covers, closing my eyes to sleep. Unfortunately, sleep wouldn't come. I rolled over on the other side and several minutes passed.
I was still awake.
Finally, I rose and sat up against the headboard with my arms wrapped around my knees. My mind won't shut down. I thought. I guess I still can't get that Auron's heart doesn't beat out of my head. I sighed heavily and rested my head on my arms.
Thunder rumbled off in the distance and lightening struck farther away, followed by another rumble of thunder. Somewhere in another room I could Rikku whimpering. It was one sound that I wasn't going to enjoy hearing. At least tomorrow we'll be out of this place. Ugh! But why can't I get to sleep? I thought with frustration.
You're baby blues…so full of wonder…your curly Q's, your contagious smile… At the sound of my mother's voice I slowly lifted my head and began to sing softly along with her. "And as I watch…you start to grow up. All I can do, is hold you tight." The words spilled right off my lips easily and softly in perfect harmony and sync with Ida.
Slowly, I began to lay back down and I closed my eyes as I continued to sing along with her. Then, my words turned into whispers until I finally stopped just to listen to her sing to me. This was what brought me sleep.
When morning came I was greeted by more thunder and lightening. As dreary as the morning was I got up with a groan and stumbled to the bathroom to splash water on my face and then relieve myself.
Once I had my hair brushed out and my armor back on I grabbed my sword, that was leaned against the wall, and decided to tie it around my waist. Just as I was opening the door I realized someone was standing there and I took a step back.
"Ah, Cynyr. I just informed most of the others; there are fiends outside the Inn. They're trying to attack some of the guests." Rin quickly explained. I nodded as I began to walk past him.
"Right, I'll get Auron. By the way," I turned back to Rin, "which room is he in?"
"Twelve A." I nodded and turned to feel along the walls and then the doors, reading with my fingers the different numbers and letters.
Finally, I arrived at the door and I suddenly hesitated. What are you so scared about? Just knock, walk in, whatever and tell him about the fiends. I nodded to myself and took a deep breath before opening the door and walking right in.
"Auron?" I called quietly. When there wasn't an answer, except for a snore, I immediately went to the bed, which was always on the right, and stopped. I hesitated again before finally reaching down, slowly, and found his shoulder.
Dang, that's a big shoulder!
"Auron." I repeated as I shook him. He didn't even flinch. He just kept snoring like there was no tomorrow. I sighed and set my mouth in a thin line before finally shaking him much harder.
"Auron! Wake up!"
Now he was awake. Perhaps a little too awake. Without warning he shot up and swung his fist in my direction. I quickly brought both my hands up and caught his fist before he could hit my face and I glared at him.
"Auron! Stop fooling around! There's fiends outside and we've been asked to get rid of them!" As I said this Auron quickly took back his fist and I began to turn away when I heard him jump out of bed.
"Cynyr!" He called after me and I stopped to turn to him again.
"What?"
Suddenly, there was a rustle as he grabbed the blankets off the bed and seemed to hold them in front of him.
"I-I'm sorry I almost hit you." He stammered and I turned away from him as I tried to hold back a laugh.
"I don't even want to know." I gestured at him and began to walk out of the room. As I walked out I heard him growl with frustration and then shut the door behind me. Now, I began to laugh.
At least I couldn't see him.
"We're all here- where's Auron?" Tidus asked as I walked into the lobby.
"I already…woke him." I said as I bit down on my lip through a smile.
"What's so funny?" Lulu asked from behind Tidus. I opened my mouth to speak when from behind me I heard Auron enter and I shook my head.
"Nothing."
I'm sure I got strange looks from the others and a glare from Auron, but I was already out the door in the light rain and chilly air.
We didn't have to go far to find the fiends. They were practically waiting for us right outside the door. I immediately withdrew my sword and I heard the others grab their weapons as well.
"Lets kick their sorry asses!" Tidus shouted before running forward and laying a hit on the first one. I could hear them all but I couldn't get an exact count of how many there were.
Five? Maybe Six? There sure is a lot of them out here…I wonder why.
Suddenly, like electricity, something powerful surged through me and I stood still for a moment to try to get my bearings. It's a lot stronger than I remembered…it even seems a little different…
"Cynyr!"
I pushed my thoughts aside and immediately ran forward, switching with Wakka as I began to attack the fiend in front of me. I heard Kimahri growl fiercely from beside me as he lifted his spear and then stabbed at the fiend he had in front of him, killing it instantly.
I hit the badly wounded fiend once more then heard the Pyerflies before pulling out to rest a bit. Suddenly, from behind me, I heard something growl and I quickly spun around as it hissed like an angry cat.
Then, it spoke, its dangerous voice echoing in my head.
Hello again, Cynyr.
Oh my goodness! Who could it be? :P
Once again, the song is by Plumb. :)
Review please!