Feedback so nice. Eee. Lovelove. Liplock session. Fweee.
Chapter 24 A Beginning of Ends
It was cold here.
The first of many groggy thoughts to enter Auron's head, he snuggled closer to
the warmth beside him. It was also dark, the light of the sun not impeding upon
his heavy eyelids. That meant that he didn't have to wake up yet. He would rise
with the sun, and well, there was no sun. Thank Yevon, because he had this
massive headache… The bedroll was far too soft for his own good. The way he
was feeling, he decided never to move from this spot. His body felt heavier than
normal, and he was sure it would require far too much effort to move even if he
wanted to. Auron stifled a moan. His body felt cold, and he shivered.
Rikku gave a little yelp as Auron clutched her to him, all of the sudden. Startled
awake, she glanced up from the security of his neck to find his shuddering and
wincing all at once. He was cold? What the hell, to her Auron was like a raging
inferno. Regardless, she placed his needs before hers, and yanked on his
shoulder, rolling him to his side. He groaned, apparently displeased at the
movement. She wrapped her legs and arms in his, feeling his warmth. It wasn't
enough for the swordsman, for he pressed his shivering form to hers harder,
mashing their bodies. Rikku inhaled sharply at the contact.
Auron groaned against her cheek, his breaths hot against her skin. Rikku was
aware of how he literally reeked of masculinity, his strong arms and chiseled
chest pressing into her while his deep groans and scratchy face assaulted her
face. She wondered if he was even awake. She grinned to herself, she had a
wonderful way of finding out.
She moved her face slightly sideways, matching up his prone lips to hers. She
gently took his bottom lip, suckling it softly. A groan, but no response from Auron.
Tysh. Ok, plan B. Like a feather touch, her lips began to caress his, moving from
top to bottom, side to side. Another groan from her companion; his hands
gripping her back and neck. Being quite the adventurer, she gently pried open his
lips with her tongue, touching the bottom of his teeth. He moved, suddenly
coming alive. His tongue touched hers, touching the bottom and sliding to the
top. His hands roamed her back, sliding up her neck and through her hair. A
tremor ran through his body, either from fever or the sensations her mouth was
sending to his nerves. He rolled on top of her, his weight settling upon her form.
Out of the blue, something hit Auron in the head. He winced, struggling not to
bite off poor Rikku's tongue. Unlocking his lips, he shot a fevered glance upwards
to see a half awake Tidus glaring at them from across a small fire. Wakka's ball
bounced harmlessly back to the ground. Auron was immediately distracted from
Tidus's glare when Rikku began to play with his neck, her fingers sifting through
his dark hair. He froze, shivers racing through his nerves. Her arms brought his
head and neck back to her, and they connected again, this time Auron surging
forwards, his mouth and tongue exploring Rikku's. Tidus sighed and buried his
head beneath the pillow. Hopeless, just hopeless.
Auron's weight was pleasant and exciting at the same time, as Rikku's soft lips
slid from his mouth to his neck. As oxygen returned to her brain, she placed light
breaths and kisses on Auron's windpipe. He hissed, jamming his eye shut. She
slid him to the soft of the bedroll, and practically crawled atop his side. Auron's
eye peeked open, curious as to what she was doing. Her supple lips were at the
back of his neck, her breaths parting hair. He shuddered violently, her kisses
traveling upwards, from his spine into the nape. Auron's eye flew closed, as he
was rendered helpless and at her mercy.
She slid around to his back, hurdling his body. An arm wrapped around his chest
while another repositioned the blanket so the heavy and warm fabric covered
them both again. Spooned behind him, it was strange for the smaller to enwrap
the larger guardian, but Auron could not care less who was watching. His body
was twitching uncontrollably at Rikku's possessive lips.
Apparently Rikku decided to have mercy, for her tantalizing lips became not quite
so teasing, but soothing as she rubbed her face into the nape of Auron's smooth
neck. His skin was still fire to the touch, which concerned Rikku somewhat. Her
hands began to dance in lazy circles on his back, sliding up his leather shirt to
the flesh beneath. Nimble fingers massaged shoulder blades and ribs, her nails
following the path of his spine. Auron fell helplessly to sensual bliss, his eye
heavy lidded and half-closed in pleasure. While still awake, his breaths were
deep and rattled in his throat while the girl behind him performed miracles and
stimulated wondrous sensations on his heated back.
After a time, Auron felt those cool hands slid under his shirt to his front side, her
fingers tracing the contours of his muscled chest. Resting at his sternum, they
clasped tightly around him, hugging him to her in the darkness. Her legs pressed
against his and she sighed into his hair. Oh, how Auron wanted to remain like
this forever, this… complete bliss. Had it not been for the constant nagging of his
separated soul from the sensations from his body, life would have truly been
perfect, regardless of where they were. Pilgrimage or not, the nights were truly
the newfound highlight of Auron's existence.
It seemed to take the majority of his remaining strength, but Auron rolled over
and again lay atop Rikku, his legs tossed over hers and his chin resting on her
collarbone. He almost winced as he lifted his head, causing Rikku to frown. He
managed to plant a soft kiss upon her chin as strands of defiant silver hair
danced before her eyes. A rough hand caressed her cheek and Rikku sighed.
The hand stopped suddenly, and the Al Bhed opened her eyes. Auron wore a
strange expression, almost a cross between confusion and pain. His eye trailed
up to hers, a question on his face. "… Ri-kku?" He murmured, eye narrowing
before it rolled into his head and he collapsed limply upon her body, his face
falling to her throat. Rikku inhaled as his heat touched her skin, his forehead
burning again with high fever.
"Auron? Auron!" she cried, gripping his dead weight with terror. She rolled him off
of her, his prone body sliding to the bedroll without resistance. Something was
wrong, something other than fever. From the look on his face, Auron didn't know
either. Rikku whimpered to herself, clinging to Auron. His face was flushed,
beads of sweat running through his hair. She sniffled, and tugged at his shirt,
pulling it up to his chest. Then she lifted his boneless arms above his head and
removed the shirt completely, offering what chilled air there was to his skin
before pulling the blanket over them both. The damp cloth fell to the ground by
their heads as Rikku pressed her head to his chest. Below the smooth skin and
taught muscle, his heart pounded rapidly. What should I do? She questioned
herself.
Sitting up, she left the bedroll, scampering to the nearby opening of the cave.
Shivering, she stepped into the snow, her uncovered skin rippling in the cold. Her
bare hands scooped up snow into a small cloth, a piece of tarp from a tent,
actually. She glanced up to the sky, dim rays of sun hidden in the snowy air. The
wind blew mercilessly at her hair, her golden locks flying about her head.
Shivering, she turned and fled back to the cave.
She wrapped the ice and snow in the tarp, then encased that in a soft cloth. She
straddled Auron, her hips resting atop the blanket on his firm stomach. The girl
then lay the chilled parcel upon Auron's brow, observing the sharp gasp from the
unconscious man. She let it sit there for a while, the ice melting and running
down his rough cheek and into his hair. A droplet fell from his eyebrow to his
good eye, tickling the lashes. It then continued to fall down his cheek like a tear.
After a time, she removed the warming cloths and placed it in the hollow of his
neck, and then to his chest. Within the hour, it was completely warmed, the heat
of Auron's skin evaporating the remaining droplets.
Rikku didn't know what else to do. Auron moaned in his sleep as he rolled onto
his stomach, an arm and hand reached upwards to rest upon the cool of the
pillow by his face. Rikku slid beside him, her face resting upon his smooth
shoulder blade while her hand gently slid through his dark hair. Her form molded
to his, her legs and hips pressing against his thick body. She lifted the tail of hair
that rested on his neck and placed it upon the pillow, allowing fresh air access to
his neck. She lay her head sideways upon his back, listening to his pulse. His
beating heart had slowed considerably, falling back to a normal, if quick, rhythm.
She herself was exhausted as she lay there listening to the air moving through
his lungs. Her right had slid down his ribs to his side, holding him in his sleep.
She sighed, the steady rhythm of Auron's heart lulling Rikku to a dreamless
slumber.
*****************************
Rikku was aware of whispers and murmurs before she actually awoke. She was
still cradling Auron's prone form to hers, her hands resting around his hips. She
lifted her head from the nape of his neck to see what was going on. Tidus and
Yuna had been joined by the others a little ways off. It was impossible to know
what time it was, the cave itself prevented her from knowing. She was torn
between getting Yunie's attention, or just ignoring them all and enjoying the
moment.
Tidus caught site of her blinking but opening eyes, and he began towards her. He
knelt silently before Auron, whom apparently was still deeply asleep, seeing as
he wasn't with the others or moving at all. The teenager placed a hand upon
Auron's bare shoulder with care.
"He' sick," Tidus whispered. Rikku nodded. Oh, believe me I know, she thought.
"Um, Lulu and Wakka are going to stay here while me, Yuna and Kimahri scout
ahead and take care of any fiends. Stay with Auron, ok?" Rikku nodded.
Noooooo problem there. She wouldn't leave his side if her life depended on it.
As the trio moved off, Lulu came forward and touched Auron's furrowed brow.
"Yuna said he was not doing well last night…" She remarked.
"No, he had a really bad nightmare or something. Auron was not happy. He
just… collapsed," Rikku replied worriedly, sitting up. Now able to see over his
shoulder, she saw Auron's pale skin was flicked with sweat in the firelight. Her
tender hand touched his cheek, eliciting a soft murmur from the guardian.
Surprisingly, after much effort, his russet eye slid open.
"Yuna?" he rasped, spinning around struggling to sit up before he was able. He
careened, and his shoulder fell into Lulu's bust. Rikku's eyes widened, but
thankfully Auron didn't seem aware enough to realize what that soft pillow was
that he had landed upon. Lulu looked shocked, then amused as she pushed him
gently towards Rikku, who accepted his weight with willing arms. His head rested
beneath her chin as his weight was transferred to the Al Bhed.
"She is fine. She and the others have gone ahead to scout the area," Lulu said,
examining the disheveled guardian, eyeing his bare chest with appreciation. His
hair was sticking up in random spikes, his eyelid struggling against some unseen
force to remain open. His eye rolled to Lulu's direction. Auron struggled to regain
his posture and look /somewhat/ presentable before his fellow guardians, but it
was just too much and he slid limply back to Rikku's arms.
"I… I cannot allow myself to slow the pilgrimage," Auron moaned, ignoring the
throbbing pain and fuzzy feeling coursing through his body and head. "We must
continue, there is little time… to… waste…"
The sentence faded away to a deep rumble as Auron's eyelid slid closed, against
his will. His last words were muffled against the Al Bhed's throat as he slipped
into darkness. Rikku's eyes grew wide in worry as the guardian passed out, his
weight lax in her arms. Why now? Why was Auron so weak now, so close to
Zanarkand? Rikku didn't understand, this man was one of the strongest she had
ever known.
Lulu shook her head. "I would not expect him to think we are leaving him behind,"
she stated. "We will continue as soon as possible, but we will go together. At
least that is my opinion. We will wait upon Yuna's decision when she returns."
Rikku agreed, cradling the weakened man against her body.
After a time, the others returned.
"Rikku…" Yuna whispered, her hand gently touching her cousin's bare shoulder.
Auron was slumped in Rikku's embrace, the woven blanket crumpled on his lap
and up to his waist. It was odd to see the much stronger, much larger man curled
up in the smaller girl's arms, like a child.
Rikku's eyes were wide in fear. "What's wrong with him, Yunie?" She asked
softly, her hand rubbing up and down Auron's sculpted biceps. Yuna shook her
head. Both girls gasped when Auron suddenly convulsed, his body trembling out
of control. Rikku and Yuna quickly lay him flat on the bedroll as his back arced
against the ground. Auron's breaths became labored and congested, fluid
sloshing in his lungs. Rikku felt tears coming unbidden to her eyes as she and
Yuna and the newly arrived Tidus pinned the convulsing man down. In a panic,
Yuna cast the strongest cure she could, ignoring the strength it sapped from the
very core of her being. Curaga's light filtered into Auron's thick frame, but to no
avail, as his breaths became shorter and shallow. Rikku suddenly realized the
truth… Auron was dying?
"I, I don't understand! He should be healed!" Yuna cried in desperation. Rikku fell
backwards in shock. Please… No…
Stumbling to her pack, Rikku only had one, small hope. Her quaking hand
reached into the pack to remove the soft silver feather.
***ooo cliffhanger. Dududuuuhhh. :D
oh, guess what! I just bought one of those nasty-expensive japanese imports of
Auron, the 12 inch ones. Mwaaahahaa! I am so going to have no money for
collage next year. O_o
-Spazkit
Chapter 24 A Beginning of Ends
It was cold here.
The first of many groggy thoughts to enter Auron's head, he snuggled closer to
the warmth beside him. It was also dark, the light of the sun not impeding upon
his heavy eyelids. That meant that he didn't have to wake up yet. He would rise
with the sun, and well, there was no sun. Thank Yevon, because he had this
massive headache… The bedroll was far too soft for his own good. The way he
was feeling, he decided never to move from this spot. His body felt heavier than
normal, and he was sure it would require far too much effort to move even if he
wanted to. Auron stifled a moan. His body felt cold, and he shivered.
Rikku gave a little yelp as Auron clutched her to him, all of the sudden. Startled
awake, she glanced up from the security of his neck to find his shuddering and
wincing all at once. He was cold? What the hell, to her Auron was like a raging
inferno. Regardless, she placed his needs before hers, and yanked on his
shoulder, rolling him to his side. He groaned, apparently displeased at the
movement. She wrapped her legs and arms in his, feeling his warmth. It wasn't
enough for the swordsman, for he pressed his shivering form to hers harder,
mashing their bodies. Rikku inhaled sharply at the contact.
Auron groaned against her cheek, his breaths hot against her skin. Rikku was
aware of how he literally reeked of masculinity, his strong arms and chiseled
chest pressing into her while his deep groans and scratchy face assaulted her
face. She wondered if he was even awake. She grinned to herself, she had a
wonderful way of finding out.
She moved her face slightly sideways, matching up his prone lips to hers. She
gently took his bottom lip, suckling it softly. A groan, but no response from Auron.
Tysh. Ok, plan B. Like a feather touch, her lips began to caress his, moving from
top to bottom, side to side. Another groan from her companion; his hands
gripping her back and neck. Being quite the adventurer, she gently pried open his
lips with her tongue, touching the bottom of his teeth. He moved, suddenly
coming alive. His tongue touched hers, touching the bottom and sliding to the
top. His hands roamed her back, sliding up her neck and through her hair. A
tremor ran through his body, either from fever or the sensations her mouth was
sending to his nerves. He rolled on top of her, his weight settling upon her form.
Out of the blue, something hit Auron in the head. He winced, struggling not to
bite off poor Rikku's tongue. Unlocking his lips, he shot a fevered glance upwards
to see a half awake Tidus glaring at them from across a small fire. Wakka's ball
bounced harmlessly back to the ground. Auron was immediately distracted from
Tidus's glare when Rikku began to play with his neck, her fingers sifting through
his dark hair. He froze, shivers racing through his nerves. Her arms brought his
head and neck back to her, and they connected again, this time Auron surging
forwards, his mouth and tongue exploring Rikku's. Tidus sighed and buried his
head beneath the pillow. Hopeless, just hopeless.
Auron's weight was pleasant and exciting at the same time, as Rikku's soft lips
slid from his mouth to his neck. As oxygen returned to her brain, she placed light
breaths and kisses on Auron's windpipe. He hissed, jamming his eye shut. She
slid him to the soft of the bedroll, and practically crawled atop his side. Auron's
eye peeked open, curious as to what she was doing. Her supple lips were at the
back of his neck, her breaths parting hair. He shuddered violently, her kisses
traveling upwards, from his spine into the nape. Auron's eye flew closed, as he
was rendered helpless and at her mercy.
She slid around to his back, hurdling his body. An arm wrapped around his chest
while another repositioned the blanket so the heavy and warm fabric covered
them both again. Spooned behind him, it was strange for the smaller to enwrap
the larger guardian, but Auron could not care less who was watching. His body
was twitching uncontrollably at Rikku's possessive lips.
Apparently Rikku decided to have mercy, for her tantalizing lips became not quite
so teasing, but soothing as she rubbed her face into the nape of Auron's smooth
neck. His skin was still fire to the touch, which concerned Rikku somewhat. Her
hands began to dance in lazy circles on his back, sliding up his leather shirt to
the flesh beneath. Nimble fingers massaged shoulder blades and ribs, her nails
following the path of his spine. Auron fell helplessly to sensual bliss, his eye
heavy lidded and half-closed in pleasure. While still awake, his breaths were
deep and rattled in his throat while the girl behind him performed miracles and
stimulated wondrous sensations on his heated back.
After a time, Auron felt those cool hands slid under his shirt to his front side, her
fingers tracing the contours of his muscled chest. Resting at his sternum, they
clasped tightly around him, hugging him to her in the darkness. Her legs pressed
against his and she sighed into his hair. Oh, how Auron wanted to remain like
this forever, this… complete bliss. Had it not been for the constant nagging of his
separated soul from the sensations from his body, life would have truly been
perfect, regardless of where they were. Pilgrimage or not, the nights were truly
the newfound highlight of Auron's existence.
It seemed to take the majority of his remaining strength, but Auron rolled over
and again lay atop Rikku, his legs tossed over hers and his chin resting on her
collarbone. He almost winced as he lifted his head, causing Rikku to frown. He
managed to plant a soft kiss upon her chin as strands of defiant silver hair
danced before her eyes. A rough hand caressed her cheek and Rikku sighed.
The hand stopped suddenly, and the Al Bhed opened her eyes. Auron wore a
strange expression, almost a cross between confusion and pain. His eye trailed
up to hers, a question on his face. "… Ri-kku?" He murmured, eye narrowing
before it rolled into his head and he collapsed limply upon her body, his face
falling to her throat. Rikku inhaled as his heat touched her skin, his forehead
burning again with high fever.
"Auron? Auron!" she cried, gripping his dead weight with terror. She rolled him off
of her, his prone body sliding to the bedroll without resistance. Something was
wrong, something other than fever. From the look on his face, Auron didn't know
either. Rikku whimpered to herself, clinging to Auron. His face was flushed,
beads of sweat running through his hair. She sniffled, and tugged at his shirt,
pulling it up to his chest. Then she lifted his boneless arms above his head and
removed the shirt completely, offering what chilled air there was to his skin
before pulling the blanket over them both. The damp cloth fell to the ground by
their heads as Rikku pressed her head to his chest. Below the smooth skin and
taught muscle, his heart pounded rapidly. What should I do? She questioned
herself.
Sitting up, she left the bedroll, scampering to the nearby opening of the cave.
Shivering, she stepped into the snow, her uncovered skin rippling in the cold. Her
bare hands scooped up snow into a small cloth, a piece of tarp from a tent,
actually. She glanced up to the sky, dim rays of sun hidden in the snowy air. The
wind blew mercilessly at her hair, her golden locks flying about her head.
Shivering, she turned and fled back to the cave.
She wrapped the ice and snow in the tarp, then encased that in a soft cloth. She
straddled Auron, her hips resting atop the blanket on his firm stomach. The girl
then lay the chilled parcel upon Auron's brow, observing the sharp gasp from the
unconscious man. She let it sit there for a while, the ice melting and running
down his rough cheek and into his hair. A droplet fell from his eyebrow to his
good eye, tickling the lashes. It then continued to fall down his cheek like a tear.
After a time, she removed the warming cloths and placed it in the hollow of his
neck, and then to his chest. Within the hour, it was completely warmed, the heat
of Auron's skin evaporating the remaining droplets.
Rikku didn't know what else to do. Auron moaned in his sleep as he rolled onto
his stomach, an arm and hand reached upwards to rest upon the cool of the
pillow by his face. Rikku slid beside him, her face resting upon his smooth
shoulder blade while her hand gently slid through his dark hair. Her form molded
to his, her legs and hips pressing against his thick body. She lifted the tail of hair
that rested on his neck and placed it upon the pillow, allowing fresh air access to
his neck. She lay her head sideways upon his back, listening to his pulse. His
beating heart had slowed considerably, falling back to a normal, if quick, rhythm.
She herself was exhausted as she lay there listening to the air moving through
his lungs. Her right had slid down his ribs to his side, holding him in his sleep.
She sighed, the steady rhythm of Auron's heart lulling Rikku to a dreamless
slumber.
*****************************
Rikku was aware of whispers and murmurs before she actually awoke. She was
still cradling Auron's prone form to hers, her hands resting around his hips. She
lifted her head from the nape of his neck to see what was going on. Tidus and
Yuna had been joined by the others a little ways off. It was impossible to know
what time it was, the cave itself prevented her from knowing. She was torn
between getting Yunie's attention, or just ignoring them all and enjoying the
moment.
Tidus caught site of her blinking but opening eyes, and he began towards her. He
knelt silently before Auron, whom apparently was still deeply asleep, seeing as
he wasn't with the others or moving at all. The teenager placed a hand upon
Auron's bare shoulder with care.
"He' sick," Tidus whispered. Rikku nodded. Oh, believe me I know, she thought.
"Um, Lulu and Wakka are going to stay here while me, Yuna and Kimahri scout
ahead and take care of any fiends. Stay with Auron, ok?" Rikku nodded.
Noooooo problem there. She wouldn't leave his side if her life depended on it.
As the trio moved off, Lulu came forward and touched Auron's furrowed brow.
"Yuna said he was not doing well last night…" She remarked.
"No, he had a really bad nightmare or something. Auron was not happy. He
just… collapsed," Rikku replied worriedly, sitting up. Now able to see over his
shoulder, she saw Auron's pale skin was flicked with sweat in the firelight. Her
tender hand touched his cheek, eliciting a soft murmur from the guardian.
Surprisingly, after much effort, his russet eye slid open.
"Yuna?" he rasped, spinning around struggling to sit up before he was able. He
careened, and his shoulder fell into Lulu's bust. Rikku's eyes widened, but
thankfully Auron didn't seem aware enough to realize what that soft pillow was
that he had landed upon. Lulu looked shocked, then amused as she pushed him
gently towards Rikku, who accepted his weight with willing arms. His head rested
beneath her chin as his weight was transferred to the Al Bhed.
"She is fine. She and the others have gone ahead to scout the area," Lulu said,
examining the disheveled guardian, eyeing his bare chest with appreciation. His
hair was sticking up in random spikes, his eyelid struggling against some unseen
force to remain open. His eye rolled to Lulu's direction. Auron struggled to regain
his posture and look /somewhat/ presentable before his fellow guardians, but it
was just too much and he slid limply back to Rikku's arms.
"I… I cannot allow myself to slow the pilgrimage," Auron moaned, ignoring the
throbbing pain and fuzzy feeling coursing through his body and head. "We must
continue, there is little time… to… waste…"
The sentence faded away to a deep rumble as Auron's eyelid slid closed, against
his will. His last words were muffled against the Al Bhed's throat as he slipped
into darkness. Rikku's eyes grew wide in worry as the guardian passed out, his
weight lax in her arms. Why now? Why was Auron so weak now, so close to
Zanarkand? Rikku didn't understand, this man was one of the strongest she had
ever known.
Lulu shook her head. "I would not expect him to think we are leaving him behind,"
she stated. "We will continue as soon as possible, but we will go together. At
least that is my opinion. We will wait upon Yuna's decision when she returns."
Rikku agreed, cradling the weakened man against her body.
After a time, the others returned.
"Rikku…" Yuna whispered, her hand gently touching her cousin's bare shoulder.
Auron was slumped in Rikku's embrace, the woven blanket crumpled on his lap
and up to his waist. It was odd to see the much stronger, much larger man curled
up in the smaller girl's arms, like a child.
Rikku's eyes were wide in fear. "What's wrong with him, Yunie?" She asked
softly, her hand rubbing up and down Auron's sculpted biceps. Yuna shook her
head. Both girls gasped when Auron suddenly convulsed, his body trembling out
of control. Rikku and Yuna quickly lay him flat on the bedroll as his back arced
against the ground. Auron's breaths became labored and congested, fluid
sloshing in his lungs. Rikku felt tears coming unbidden to her eyes as she and
Yuna and the newly arrived Tidus pinned the convulsing man down. In a panic,
Yuna cast the strongest cure she could, ignoring the strength it sapped from the
very core of her being. Curaga's light filtered into Auron's thick frame, but to no
avail, as his breaths became shorter and shallow. Rikku suddenly realized the
truth… Auron was dying?
"I, I don't understand! He should be healed!" Yuna cried in desperation. Rikku fell
backwards in shock. Please… No…
Stumbling to her pack, Rikku only had one, small hope. Her quaking hand
reached into the pack to remove the soft silver feather.
***ooo cliffhanger. Dududuuuhhh. :D
oh, guess what! I just bought one of those nasty-expensive japanese imports of
Auron, the 12 inch ones. Mwaaahahaa! I am so going to have no money for
collage next year. O_o
-Spazkit