As I mentioned in the previous chapter, this new one doesn't have much (actually any) game dialog! Yay! No wracking my brain in a desperate panic to remember! ^__^ Heheh... bleh.... Sorry, this chapter's kinda short, and it's mostly Rikku's thoughts; hence the title of the chapter. Thank you so much to the people who reviewed! And please continue reviewing!

centerbChapter 2: Contemplation/b/centerbr

Her gloved hands grasped the heavy wooden lid of the box and pried it open, revealing two bomb cores. These would undoubtedly make a devastating combination in future battles, so the Al Bhed tucked them away in her shorts left pocket. She was sure that when the others saw some of her lethal combinations they would be more than impressed.

Suddenly, Rikku's senses screamed a warning at her and she jumped back from the treasure chest. Just in time, as an angry simurgh landed where she had just been. Startled, she tripped backwards over a tree root and landed hard on her back. Her fall had knocked her vision askew momentarily, but she hurriedly attempted to sit before the creature had a chance to strike. Her vision cleared, only to see the simurgh hiss and prepare to lunge at her.

Suddenly, a pair of yellow sneakers intervened, seemingly out of nowhere. Tidus' sword swiftly sliced through the fiend, reducing it to pyreflies. He turned around and offered Rikku a hand up, which she gratefully accepted as she rubbed her sore backside.

That had not gone as intended, and she could almost see Auron smirking under his collar at her episode of clumsiness. Still, Tidus and Wakka seemed genuinely impressed at her ability to steal during battle. Yuna however, was concerned about her cousin's fall and offered her a cure spell to ease her pain. Rikku's face reddened in embarrassment as she declined from the offer.

The rest of the trip to Guado Salam passed fairly uneventfully. Rikku was quite pleased with herself for stealing a supply of high potions from various bunyips, but was quickly becoming bored and allowed her mind to wander from the road.

Glancing around, she first noticed Tidus in an animated conversation with Yuna; probably bragging about some blitzball stunt he impressed crowds with. Every once in a while, Yuna would giggle or gasp in astonishment at his tales.

Rikku began to think about when he had rescued her that afternoon. He resembled and acted like what she had always imagined her knight in shining armor to be. His golden hair, ocean blue eyes, talkative personality. Everything she had wanted in a guy but had never found before. She wondered if maybe, just maybe, he had feelings for her. After all, he had spoken with her many times when they had first met, and just now he had saved her from a fiend. Would they make a good couple? An Al Bhed and a boy supposedly from Zanarkand...

Completely absorbed in her thoughts, Rikku failed to notice that Auron had suddenly stopped in front of her. Still pondering her and Tidus' compatibility, she marched straight into his scarlet form.

Startled from her daydreams, she looked up into his disapproving glare. Murmuring a quick apology, she stepped back, then realized why he had stopped. They had reached the entrance to Guado Salam.

An important looking guado flanked by two guado guards awaited their arrival. The official introduced himself as Tromell, and proceeded into a lengthy speech. Once again, Rikku found herself losing concentration.

Glancing to her left, she found that Auron was listening intently to the words of the guado. 'What's up with Auron anyways?' she found herself wondering. He always seemed so cold and somewhat distant from the rest of the guardians, yet behind that, he seemed to care deeply about his summoner. During their previous battles, Yuna had not received a single scratch, as Auron had taken all of the fiends' blows. Why he would do that was a mystery to Rikku. Is that what a professional guardian should act like? Did he feel extra responsibility towards her because she was Braska's daughter? Or maybe, behind that emotionless mask, he was actually somewhat human and kind? Rikku dismissed that last thought with a silent laugh. Auron was probably just taking his job as a guardian too seriously. Her mind continued to drift into space as she remembered the way his scarlet-coated figure would flash in front of the summoner, shielding her from harm. The way his dark sunglasses caught the light from the sun pouring through the trees' leaves, allowing her to occasionally catch a glimpse of his single russet eye.

The Al Bhed noticed belatedly that her stare was being returned, and also that Yunie and her other guardians had begun to advance into the town.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" He queried with a hint of amusement in his otherwise monotonous voice.

Rikku felt a blush creep to her cheeks as she shook her head. Unsure of what else to do, she simply scampered off after Yuna. She decided not to daydream any more that day, and attention defecate disorder or not, she would pay more attention to what was going on. The unfortunate Al Bhed girl had faced more than her fair share of humiliation that day.

*****

Another chapter done! Very short, but oh well. Please review! Next chapter'll have more of an Aurikku feel, promise.

Also, remember to watch the Olympics tonight cause it's the Canadian women's hockey game! Could you imagine this happening in speed skating? "Go to the line.... Ready.... Banana! Oh, I kid, I kid... Now seriously this time... :)" Hehe, this has been the only thing keeping me sane today. -_-;; And the fact that "Mi pulpo es muerto!" Okay, I'm done for now... ^__^;;