Yes people, I actually got off my lazy butt and wrote another chapter of this baby! Wow for me! I've been under a severe angsty plot bunny attack, so please forgive me my procrastination, mmkay?
Big thanks to everyone who reviewed, you are such darlings! This goes to you, xauberflote07 (I'm not cool, I'm still practising ^_^), Era Yachi, Tau, Sharyn (thanks for correcting, I appreciate it), Demona169, Little Suzuka, Angelus, SLCheese, DJ666 (wow, that is something...), Inflammable shoopuf (that dress was for you!), klepto-maniac... Ok, I thanked you already, on with the fic.
Chapter 4
What a horrible nightmare. Auron was still sweating, and the adrenaline wreaking havoc in his blood he tried to force his breath slower. He was succeeding, when he abruptly froze. Yes, his senses never betrayed him. There was somebody behind his door.
"Who is it?" Auron inquired, wondering whether he really wanted to know. An immediate flush of relief came over him when a blue paw opened the door. Kimahri would pose no threat to his mental well-being.
"Auron see Yuna?" Kimahri was as always, straight to the point. That's what Auron liked about him.
"No. Is something wrong?"
"Yuna not in her room. Rikku say she with Tidus, but not tell Kimahri where."
"Well, I know Tidus will keep her safe, and as long as Rikku knows their whereabouts, there's probably no reason to worry. Rikku is her cousin after all." In his mind Auron added: "And boy are they both going to get their ass kicked if I'm wrong."
"Anyway," Auron continued aloud, "the two are probably on the deck making out. Or something to that extent."
Kimahri pondered this a moment, then replied: "Auron right. Kimahri still worry. Kimahri go look for them." The Ronso was already turning away, then he stopped in his tracks like he'd forgotten something important.
"Yes?" Auron inquired.
"Why Auron not sleep? Look stressed. Rikku have good sleep potion, Kimahri can get Rikku." The Ronso warrior's kind offer had a rather undesirable effect on poor Auron, still edgy from his nightmares. Rikku was one of the last people he wanted to see. And somehow the idea of Rikku and mind altering medication didn't mix well with Auron.
"Yevon no!" Auron yelped, barely restraining his voice. "Excuse me, I... I think I had a little too much already", he continued, more cordially and composed.
The Ronso was wise enough not to push it and paid no obvious notice to Auron's uncharasteristic response. He only nodded, and was out the door in an eyeblink.
Left alone again Auron gathered his thoughts. Yuna would not leave the ship, at least not alone. Thanks to Cid's sophisticated machina, everyone would be safe as long as they stayed right beside the airship. The alarms would go off anyway if anything attacked. So it was not an issue.
Then why did he feel a little uneasy? Auron was puzzled. His instincts were always right, and now they seemed to tell him something he quite couldn't put his finger on. The feeling was there, but it was not strong enough to make him act on it. That's why he was still in his bed and not searching with Kimahri. Auron trusted his instincts above all. Failing to do so had always led to trouble.
Wrecking his sleep deprived brain he finally came up with a plausible explanation. They were just up to some childish prank. Yes, that's it. He should know, he had watched over Tidus for... oh Yevon, ten years already! And every year he gained another grey streak in his once pitch black hair. Tidus was, and still is, notorious in mischief, and Rikku's no better. They probably held contests on who could screw up most efficiently.
Hopefully Yuna's serious attitude would keep those two in leash. Oh great, Tidus and Rikku were supposed to be /her/ guardians, not the other way around! And Auron felt like he had to keep the whole bunch in line. Kids, he muttered, they will be the end of me.
Whatever they were up to, it was none of his concern. They wouldn't dare to bother him anyway. He'd hear all about it in the morning. Sleep should be Auron's number one priority now.
Knock. Someone at the door. Again. Auron held his breath. Maybe if he kept really quiet, the cursed creature in the corridor would go away and leave him be.
Guess I'm not the type to get lucky, Auron mumbled as the offender walked right in.
"Heya, what's up man!"
"Cut the niceties and get to the point," was the grouchy answer.
"Aw man, you sure ain't a talker, ya?" Wakka rubbed his neck as if he was thinking hard. Fat chance there, Auron mused.
"I have this question for you, ya? Since you're the oldest of us and all, you got the experience I think..." Wakka was fidgeting. He was clearly nervous. Auron waited, not exactly anxious to hear what his somewhat dimwitted Guardian "brudda" had in mind.
"Sir Auron, you know something 'bout women? Like, how they work and stuff."
Now that was /not/ at all what Auron had expected. But he found himself almost pleased with this turn. At least Wakka didn't seem to doubt his... preferences. On top of that, Wakka came to him, relying on his experience! Appreciation, that felt nice to have every once in a while.
"I never received a manual, and Yevon knows I'd wanted one, but I guess I might be of some use," Auron answered.
Wakka appeared encouraged by not getting his head chewed, so he loosened up some knots. He came to Auron's side and sat down.
"You know me and Lulu -- is she hot or what!" Wakka nudged Auron's side in his typical "yo brudda"-way. "I really want to get closer ya, but she just won't let me. It's like," Wakka wawed his hands in a circle for effect, "everything I try is useless. And just when I think I got it, she's all cuddly and sweet an' all, you know, and then just, BANG! Nothing! So tell me, brudda, whaddam I supposed to do? Read her mind or what?"
Auron listened through all Wakka's frustrated rumbling, which wasn't short in any way, sipping his sake, wearing his trademark expression. When the yapping stopped (Even Wakka has to draw some breath ya), Auron opened his mouth.
"If there's one thing I've learned about women", he began, "is that never, ever make them angry at you", he said offering some of his sake to Wakka in an unusual bout of generousity. Looks like flattery will get you anywhere, including Auron's jug.
"Yeah, that much I figured too", Wakka replied as he took a quick sip, afraid Auron would change his mind in a heartbeat. "Yeah, they're *scary when they're mad*", Wakka said in his best Rikku voice. Auron grinned, but was it because of the swell impersonation or Wakka making himself look even more ridiculous than usual, we'll never know.
They were having a nice time, chatting on (well, Wakka mostly, but whatever), wondering what to make of women (again, mostly Wakka, since Auron is as much a mystery as any woman), and getting smashed (it's also known as male bonding, people!).
They were abruptly stopped when Lulu stormed in.
"What /are/ you doing in here?" she hissed.
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That's it folks for now! Hope it didn't suck... Let's see, I've got a checklist here:
1. Make fun of Tidus. Check.
2. Make fun of Rikku. Check.
3. Make fun of Wakka. Check.
4. Keep Kimahri speaking like a dork. Check that too.
5. Torture Auron. Hmm.. *reads* Oh no, I totally forgot! Oh man, my Tidus muse will be /so/ mad at me now...
~Tidus~ That's right! Kick the old man where it hurts! You're being too nice!
Ehh, get back in the closet Tidus, alright? I'll write some hot stuff for you...
Again, review me, even if you hate my guts and want to rip my heart out and feed it to the wolves... *switch to Squall mode* ...Whatever.
Big thanks to everyone who reviewed, you are such darlings! This goes to you, xauberflote07 (I'm not cool, I'm still practising ^_^), Era Yachi, Tau, Sharyn (thanks for correcting, I appreciate it), Demona169, Little Suzuka, Angelus, SLCheese, DJ666 (wow, that is something...), Inflammable shoopuf (that dress was for you!), klepto-maniac... Ok, I thanked you already, on with the fic.
Chapter 4
What a horrible nightmare. Auron was still sweating, and the adrenaline wreaking havoc in his blood he tried to force his breath slower. He was succeeding, when he abruptly froze. Yes, his senses never betrayed him. There was somebody behind his door.
"Who is it?" Auron inquired, wondering whether he really wanted to know. An immediate flush of relief came over him when a blue paw opened the door. Kimahri would pose no threat to his mental well-being.
"Auron see Yuna?" Kimahri was as always, straight to the point. That's what Auron liked about him.
"No. Is something wrong?"
"Yuna not in her room. Rikku say she with Tidus, but not tell Kimahri where."
"Well, I know Tidus will keep her safe, and as long as Rikku knows their whereabouts, there's probably no reason to worry. Rikku is her cousin after all." In his mind Auron added: "And boy are they both going to get their ass kicked if I'm wrong."
"Anyway," Auron continued aloud, "the two are probably on the deck making out. Or something to that extent."
Kimahri pondered this a moment, then replied: "Auron right. Kimahri still worry. Kimahri go look for them." The Ronso was already turning away, then he stopped in his tracks like he'd forgotten something important.
"Yes?" Auron inquired.
"Why Auron not sleep? Look stressed. Rikku have good sleep potion, Kimahri can get Rikku." The Ronso warrior's kind offer had a rather undesirable effect on poor Auron, still edgy from his nightmares. Rikku was one of the last people he wanted to see. And somehow the idea of Rikku and mind altering medication didn't mix well with Auron.
"Yevon no!" Auron yelped, barely restraining his voice. "Excuse me, I... I think I had a little too much already", he continued, more cordially and composed.
The Ronso was wise enough not to push it and paid no obvious notice to Auron's uncharasteristic response. He only nodded, and was out the door in an eyeblink.
Left alone again Auron gathered his thoughts. Yuna would not leave the ship, at least not alone. Thanks to Cid's sophisticated machina, everyone would be safe as long as they stayed right beside the airship. The alarms would go off anyway if anything attacked. So it was not an issue.
Then why did he feel a little uneasy? Auron was puzzled. His instincts were always right, and now they seemed to tell him something he quite couldn't put his finger on. The feeling was there, but it was not strong enough to make him act on it. That's why he was still in his bed and not searching with Kimahri. Auron trusted his instincts above all. Failing to do so had always led to trouble.
Wrecking his sleep deprived brain he finally came up with a plausible explanation. They were just up to some childish prank. Yes, that's it. He should know, he had watched over Tidus for... oh Yevon, ten years already! And every year he gained another grey streak in his once pitch black hair. Tidus was, and still is, notorious in mischief, and Rikku's no better. They probably held contests on who could screw up most efficiently.
Hopefully Yuna's serious attitude would keep those two in leash. Oh great, Tidus and Rikku were supposed to be /her/ guardians, not the other way around! And Auron felt like he had to keep the whole bunch in line. Kids, he muttered, they will be the end of me.
Whatever they were up to, it was none of his concern. They wouldn't dare to bother him anyway. He'd hear all about it in the morning. Sleep should be Auron's number one priority now.
Knock. Someone at the door. Again. Auron held his breath. Maybe if he kept really quiet, the cursed creature in the corridor would go away and leave him be.
Guess I'm not the type to get lucky, Auron mumbled as the offender walked right in.
"Heya, what's up man!"
"Cut the niceties and get to the point," was the grouchy answer.
"Aw man, you sure ain't a talker, ya?" Wakka rubbed his neck as if he was thinking hard. Fat chance there, Auron mused.
"I have this question for you, ya? Since you're the oldest of us and all, you got the experience I think..." Wakka was fidgeting. He was clearly nervous. Auron waited, not exactly anxious to hear what his somewhat dimwitted Guardian "brudda" had in mind.
"Sir Auron, you know something 'bout women? Like, how they work and stuff."
Now that was /not/ at all what Auron had expected. But he found himself almost pleased with this turn. At least Wakka didn't seem to doubt his... preferences. On top of that, Wakka came to him, relying on his experience! Appreciation, that felt nice to have every once in a while.
"I never received a manual, and Yevon knows I'd wanted one, but I guess I might be of some use," Auron answered.
Wakka appeared encouraged by not getting his head chewed, so he loosened up some knots. He came to Auron's side and sat down.
"You know me and Lulu -- is she hot or what!" Wakka nudged Auron's side in his typical "yo brudda"-way. "I really want to get closer ya, but she just won't let me. It's like," Wakka wawed his hands in a circle for effect, "everything I try is useless. And just when I think I got it, she's all cuddly and sweet an' all, you know, and then just, BANG! Nothing! So tell me, brudda, whaddam I supposed to do? Read her mind or what?"
Auron listened through all Wakka's frustrated rumbling, which wasn't short in any way, sipping his sake, wearing his trademark expression. When the yapping stopped (Even Wakka has to draw some breath ya), Auron opened his mouth.
"If there's one thing I've learned about women", he began, "is that never, ever make them angry at you", he said offering some of his sake to Wakka in an unusual bout of generousity. Looks like flattery will get you anywhere, including Auron's jug.
"Yeah, that much I figured too", Wakka replied as he took a quick sip, afraid Auron would change his mind in a heartbeat. "Yeah, they're *scary when they're mad*", Wakka said in his best Rikku voice. Auron grinned, but was it because of the swell impersonation or Wakka making himself look even more ridiculous than usual, we'll never know.
They were having a nice time, chatting on (well, Wakka mostly, but whatever), wondering what to make of women (again, mostly Wakka, since Auron is as much a mystery as any woman), and getting smashed (it's also known as male bonding, people!).
They were abruptly stopped when Lulu stormed in.
"What /are/ you doing in here?" she hissed.
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That's it folks for now! Hope it didn't suck... Let's see, I've got a checklist here:
1. Make fun of Tidus. Check.
2. Make fun of Rikku. Check.
3. Make fun of Wakka. Check.
4. Keep Kimahri speaking like a dork. Check that too.
5. Torture Auron. Hmm.. *reads* Oh no, I totally forgot! Oh man, my Tidus muse will be /so/ mad at me now...
~Tidus~ That's right! Kick the old man where it hurts! You're being too nice!
Ehh, get back in the closet Tidus, alright? I'll write some hot stuff for you...
Again, review me, even if you hate my guts and want to rip my heart out and feed it to the wolves... *switch to Squall mode* ...Whatever.