Ureta Tsumi (A Ripened Sin)
Chapter Six: Hunting for Butterflies
By: NurikoLuver (Trudy Haley)
Author's Notes: Blargh...maybe this'll make up for the Rikku-Tidus thing. ^_^;; So cute. Not as cute as the last one, but still cute. I can just "see" the whole butterfly hunt. *huggles her Auron UFO plushie* Maybe another chapter tonight... ^_^
When Rikku woke up, it all seemed like a dream. Only when she realized she was STILL snuggled in Auron's jacket did she realize that last night wasn't an illusion- it was real.
Thankfully, she had woken up before everyone else. How unusual. Usually Wakka would have to wake her up. Rikku loved to sleep in. Unfortunately, this trip had left her sleep-deprived. Rikku yawned at the mere thought of it.
The snow crinkled under her boots as she walked over to Auron with his jacket folded over her arm. She nudged him awake.
"Auron...Auron?" Boy, was this guy hard to wake up.
"Hmm...eh...huh...?" Auron yawned hugely, but his eyes did not open.
So instead of waking him up,she simply folded his jacket at his feet.
Rikku shivered immediately. She didn't know why she had sacraficed the warmth of her jacket. Was it because she felt ashamed at the aspect of taking away from his warmth? Or was it because she didn't want anyone (namely, Tidus) to have any reason to beleive that she and Auron had anything more than a platonic relationship? The more Rikku thought about it, the more she thought it was the latter.
So she went back to her blanket and curled up in it. The extant fire was dying out now and Rikku just couldn't help but poke the fire, sending embers flying. She hoped it would start up again, but no such luck. Rikku poked her twig into the gelid snow that remained, sending soft streams of smoke flowing with the wind.
It was nearing dawn; the sudden effulgence of the rising sun blinded Rikku for a second. When her eyes adjusted, she noticed Yunie was sitting up in her pallet, right next to her.
"Isn't someone up early today?" Yuna smiled.
"'Mornin', Yunie!" Rikku exclaimed with a wave. "Sleep well?"
"Fine, I suppose." Yunie smiled at her cousin. "Isn't he cute when he sleeps?" Yuna gestured to Tidus, who was snoring loudly. In between snores, bits of saliva fell from the edge of his mouth, only to be sucked in when he inhaled.
Rikku stifled a laugh. "VERY."
"Whut ya girls up to?" Wakka joined the two girls with a stretch, adding a lethargic groan as he did so.
"Good Morning, Wakka," Yuna beamed up at her guardian.
Wakka plopped down by the two girls. "Vrrr...it's cold!"
"I know, FREEZING!" Rikku snuggled deeper into her blanket. "The sooner we get outta here, the better." Although Rikku adored the snow, she didn't appreciate the inclement weather that accompanied it.
Pretty soon, everyone was awake, and the girls couldn't help but pick fun at Tidus' sleeping habits.
"Tidus you're so funny when you sleep!" exclaimed Rikku upon his awakening.
"Huh? How'm I funny?" Tidus yawned loudly.
"Someday, we'll have to make a movie sphere of you sleeping for you to watch," giggled Yuna.
Once camp was packed, they proceeded further through Macalania, only to meet a strange character clothed in a headband of feathers and a long robe.
"The butterfly that changes color attracts the red and blue butterflies. Red butterflies are ill omens. Get too close and they will summon deadly fiends. Blue butterflies lead to good fortune. Find seven and a treasure will be yours." And with that, the strange man disapeared.
"What was dat?!" Wakka asked.
Tidus shrugged. "Who knows? But maybe we should catch those butterflies."
"Oh-KAY!" exclaimed Rikku. "Let's catch some butterflies!" Everyone split up, on the butterfly hunt. But it was Rikku who was losing her patience.
"Arghh!" pouted Rikku. "Darnit!" she stomped her foot in frustration.
"What's the matter?" Auron asked.
"Every time I get close to a blue one, they always seem to disapear," explained Rikku, attempting to capture one from behind. No such luck. "But..." Rikku clapped her hands around the butterfly- too late! "...those stupid red butterflies, they come after me! Why is it that the good ones keep just right out of my grasp, and the bad ones, well, they just won't go away?"
Auron shrugged. "Look, you see that one?" he pointed towards the blue butterfly Rikku had lost track of. "How about we work together to capture it?"
"Together?"
"Yeah. You and me," Auron confirmed.
"O...okay," Rikku was reluctant at first, but the more she thought about it, the more practical his suggestion became.
So while Auron assualted it from the front, Rikku chased it from behind.
"A-ha!" They both clasped their hands on it at the same time, their hands interlocking over each other in layers. Auron and Rikku looked up at each other in surprise, gaping at one another before blushing, and quickly releasing their hands from each other's grip.
"That's one down!" exclaimed Rikku. "Guess some things you can't do alone!"
Auron laughed in amusement. "Shall we try again?"
"Sure!"
In the time limit alotted, the entire group was able to capture all the butterflies neccessary, Tidus did the honors of opening the treasure chest. A Mega-Potion? The group was slightly disapointed, but continued forward. After all that walking, they HAD to be near the end of the Macalania Woods.
"Hey, it's O'aka!" Tidus sprinted to the shopkeeper. "What great timing! We were running low on High Potions."
"O'aka XXIII, Merchant Extraordinaire, at your service," he said, with a bow.
"Hmmm...how much Gil do we have, Rikku?"
"98,743 Gil," Rikku responded.
"And...how much are your High Potions?" Tidus inquired.
"500 Gil a piece," O'aka responded.
"Man! That's a little pricey, yah?"
"Tidus, I'm sure we can look elsewhere for High Potions," Lulu smiled, giving him a wink. "You know, our little thief Rikku's just perfect for when we need some potion."
"Okay, okay! How about 250 Gil?" offered O'aka.
"That is simply an offer we CANNOT refuse," Lulu said, smiling. Boy, were her compromising skills hot! "We'll take 50."
But just after they paid O'aka and continued on a few feet, they were attacked but what appeared to be a Boss. Spherimorph.
"Eeek! What *IS* that thing?!" screeched Rikku.
Using scan, Kimhari was able to identify it better. "12,000 hit points. Weakness, opposite elemental than cast."
"Lu, I guess you're going to come in handy for this battle, yah?" Wakka grinned.
"Don't I always?" Lulu scoffed playfully.
"No comment," Wakka retaliated with a wink.
The party was decided just as the Spherimorph appeared close enough to attack: Lulu, Yunie, and Tidus. Auron, Wakka, Kimhari, and Rikku watched from the sidelines.
"That boss is so icky," winced Rikku. "But I really hope I can help this fight." She smiled up at Auron.
And so the battle started. Tidus attacked physically, causing it to counter (and divulge) its element, then Yuna would heal Tidus, and Lulu would cast an opposite spell. Same ol', same ol'.
But pretty soon, the battelfield was becoming tiresome. Since the beginning of the fight, the few Ethers the team had in their possesstion were used, so all magic-users were pulled out. Auron, Rikku, and Wakka took their turn.
Rikku struck first, using her mug attack. She was surprised to find that in her posessestion, she now beheld an Ether. "Waoi! Guys, look, I got an Ether!"
And beause Rikku was unfortunate enough to have stolen an effort, she was pulled out the fight, and Lulu replaced her. Rikku glumly sat on the sidelines, watching as Lulu, Wakka, and Auron battled it out. Shucks. Foiled again...Wasn't really fair was it? Rikku pouted. Her talent caused her to be pulled out the battle. It just WASN'T fair.
But when the battle ended, everyone was surprised to find that the monster left behind more than just Gil- it left a Jecht Sphere.
Watching it intently with the rest of the group, she found it almost impossible to beleive that handsome, spunky boy in the sphere could ever possibly be AURON. Rikku stared at Auron's profile for a minute before glancing at the sphere. Auron, well, he wasn't ugly now, but he had certainly aged. And he had changed. Her mind wandered off to other things- like...what made Auron change so much? Wasn't he so much...like Tidus back then? What had happened?
Rikku wanted to know.
Blarghadesh, couldn't think of a way to end this one. x_X Sorry, some of this chapter is from memory, so if it's inaccurate on my part, gomen. V_V;; I thought it was pretty cute, though. Still trying to repent for that whole Tidus-Rikku thing. ^^;;
Chapter Six: Hunting for Butterflies
By: NurikoLuver (Trudy Haley)
Author's Notes: Blargh...maybe this'll make up for the Rikku-Tidus thing. ^_^;; So cute. Not as cute as the last one, but still cute. I can just "see" the whole butterfly hunt. *huggles her Auron UFO plushie* Maybe another chapter tonight... ^_^
When Rikku woke up, it all seemed like a dream. Only when she realized she was STILL snuggled in Auron's jacket did she realize that last night wasn't an illusion- it was real.
Thankfully, she had woken up before everyone else. How unusual. Usually Wakka would have to wake her up. Rikku loved to sleep in. Unfortunately, this trip had left her sleep-deprived. Rikku yawned at the mere thought of it.
The snow crinkled under her boots as she walked over to Auron with his jacket folded over her arm. She nudged him awake.
"Auron...Auron?" Boy, was this guy hard to wake up.
"Hmm...eh...huh...?" Auron yawned hugely, but his eyes did not open.
So instead of waking him up,she simply folded his jacket at his feet.
Rikku shivered immediately. She didn't know why she had sacraficed the warmth of her jacket. Was it because she felt ashamed at the aspect of taking away from his warmth? Or was it because she didn't want anyone (namely, Tidus) to have any reason to beleive that she and Auron had anything more than a platonic relationship? The more Rikku thought about it, the more she thought it was the latter.
So she went back to her blanket and curled up in it. The extant fire was dying out now and Rikku just couldn't help but poke the fire, sending embers flying. She hoped it would start up again, but no such luck. Rikku poked her twig into the gelid snow that remained, sending soft streams of smoke flowing with the wind.
It was nearing dawn; the sudden effulgence of the rising sun blinded Rikku for a second. When her eyes adjusted, she noticed Yunie was sitting up in her pallet, right next to her.
"Isn't someone up early today?" Yuna smiled.
"'Mornin', Yunie!" Rikku exclaimed with a wave. "Sleep well?"
"Fine, I suppose." Yunie smiled at her cousin. "Isn't he cute when he sleeps?" Yuna gestured to Tidus, who was snoring loudly. In between snores, bits of saliva fell from the edge of his mouth, only to be sucked in when he inhaled.
Rikku stifled a laugh. "VERY."
"Whut ya girls up to?" Wakka joined the two girls with a stretch, adding a lethargic groan as he did so.
"Good Morning, Wakka," Yuna beamed up at her guardian.
Wakka plopped down by the two girls. "Vrrr...it's cold!"
"I know, FREEZING!" Rikku snuggled deeper into her blanket. "The sooner we get outta here, the better." Although Rikku adored the snow, she didn't appreciate the inclement weather that accompanied it.
Pretty soon, everyone was awake, and the girls couldn't help but pick fun at Tidus' sleeping habits.
"Tidus you're so funny when you sleep!" exclaimed Rikku upon his awakening.
"Huh? How'm I funny?" Tidus yawned loudly.
"Someday, we'll have to make a movie sphere of you sleeping for you to watch," giggled Yuna.
Once camp was packed, they proceeded further through Macalania, only to meet a strange character clothed in a headband of feathers and a long robe.
"The butterfly that changes color attracts the red and blue butterflies. Red butterflies are ill omens. Get too close and they will summon deadly fiends. Blue butterflies lead to good fortune. Find seven and a treasure will be yours." And with that, the strange man disapeared.
"What was dat?!" Wakka asked.
Tidus shrugged. "Who knows? But maybe we should catch those butterflies."
"Oh-KAY!" exclaimed Rikku. "Let's catch some butterflies!" Everyone split up, on the butterfly hunt. But it was Rikku who was losing her patience.
"Arghh!" pouted Rikku. "Darnit!" she stomped her foot in frustration.
"What's the matter?" Auron asked.
"Every time I get close to a blue one, they always seem to disapear," explained Rikku, attempting to capture one from behind. No such luck. "But..." Rikku clapped her hands around the butterfly- too late! "...those stupid red butterflies, they come after me! Why is it that the good ones keep just right out of my grasp, and the bad ones, well, they just won't go away?"
Auron shrugged. "Look, you see that one?" he pointed towards the blue butterfly Rikku had lost track of. "How about we work together to capture it?"
"Together?"
"Yeah. You and me," Auron confirmed.
"O...okay," Rikku was reluctant at first, but the more she thought about it, the more practical his suggestion became.
So while Auron assualted it from the front, Rikku chased it from behind.
"A-ha!" They both clasped their hands on it at the same time, their hands interlocking over each other in layers. Auron and Rikku looked up at each other in surprise, gaping at one another before blushing, and quickly releasing their hands from each other's grip.
"That's one down!" exclaimed Rikku. "Guess some things you can't do alone!"
Auron laughed in amusement. "Shall we try again?"
"Sure!"
In the time limit alotted, the entire group was able to capture all the butterflies neccessary, Tidus did the honors of opening the treasure chest. A Mega-Potion? The group was slightly disapointed, but continued forward. After all that walking, they HAD to be near the end of the Macalania Woods.
"Hey, it's O'aka!" Tidus sprinted to the shopkeeper. "What great timing! We were running low on High Potions."
"O'aka XXIII, Merchant Extraordinaire, at your service," he said, with a bow.
"Hmmm...how much Gil do we have, Rikku?"
"98,743 Gil," Rikku responded.
"And...how much are your High Potions?" Tidus inquired.
"500 Gil a piece," O'aka responded.
"Man! That's a little pricey, yah?"
"Tidus, I'm sure we can look elsewhere for High Potions," Lulu smiled, giving him a wink. "You know, our little thief Rikku's just perfect for when we need some potion."
"Okay, okay! How about 250 Gil?" offered O'aka.
"That is simply an offer we CANNOT refuse," Lulu said, smiling. Boy, were her compromising skills hot! "We'll take 50."
But just after they paid O'aka and continued on a few feet, they were attacked but what appeared to be a Boss. Spherimorph.
"Eeek! What *IS* that thing?!" screeched Rikku.
Using scan, Kimhari was able to identify it better. "12,000 hit points. Weakness, opposite elemental than cast."
"Lu, I guess you're going to come in handy for this battle, yah?" Wakka grinned.
"Don't I always?" Lulu scoffed playfully.
"No comment," Wakka retaliated with a wink.
The party was decided just as the Spherimorph appeared close enough to attack: Lulu, Yunie, and Tidus. Auron, Wakka, Kimhari, and Rikku watched from the sidelines.
"That boss is so icky," winced Rikku. "But I really hope I can help this fight." She smiled up at Auron.
And so the battle started. Tidus attacked physically, causing it to counter (and divulge) its element, then Yuna would heal Tidus, and Lulu would cast an opposite spell. Same ol', same ol'.
But pretty soon, the battelfield was becoming tiresome. Since the beginning of the fight, the few Ethers the team had in their possesstion were used, so all magic-users were pulled out. Auron, Rikku, and Wakka took their turn.
Rikku struck first, using her mug attack. She was surprised to find that in her posessestion, she now beheld an Ether. "Waoi! Guys, look, I got an Ether!"
And beause Rikku was unfortunate enough to have stolen an effort, she was pulled out the fight, and Lulu replaced her. Rikku glumly sat on the sidelines, watching as Lulu, Wakka, and Auron battled it out. Shucks. Foiled again...Wasn't really fair was it? Rikku pouted. Her talent caused her to be pulled out the battle. It just WASN'T fair.
But when the battle ended, everyone was surprised to find that the monster left behind more than just Gil- it left a Jecht Sphere.
Watching it intently with the rest of the group, she found it almost impossible to beleive that handsome, spunky boy in the sphere could ever possibly be AURON. Rikku stared at Auron's profile for a minute before glancing at the sphere. Auron, well, he wasn't ugly now, but he had certainly aged. And he had changed. Her mind wandered off to other things- like...what made Auron change so much? Wasn't he so much...like Tidus back then? What had happened?
Rikku wanted to know.
Blarghadesh, couldn't think of a way to end this one. x_X Sorry, some of this chapter is from memory, so if it's inaccurate on my part, gomen. V_V;; I thought it was pretty cute, though. Still trying to repent for that whole Tidus-Rikku thing. ^^;;