Blatherings: I'm fairly alarmed here. I used to sing in the shower... now, I write Auron dialog in my head. Please, someone tell me I'm not the only one.

Maybe I should try and obtain a grant... to establish the Auron Rehab Foundation (ARF), for the hopelessly obsessed Auron fanfic writer.

"Excuse me, could you pass the Masamune Mix? Thanks. I'm sorry, what was that you were saying? You haven't slept in three days?"






Otherworld Year Five: Chapter 4




Warm afternoon light poured through the glass wall, Auron's form casting a deep shadow across the floor, as he crossed the room to lean up against the edge of the desk.

"Do you mean to tell me, that Remie actually knocked you on your ass?" Gabe said incredulously, equal parts of disbelief and glee, etched across his face, as he leaned forward from the edge of the bed.

"I believe that is what I just explained, in some detail." Auron growled. Perhaps if he demonstrated an overdrive on Gabe's thick skull, he would begin to understand.

Sahna, sitting in the sole chair, brought her iced-tea to her forehead for a moment, attempting to cool herself off. "And you're sure that you're okay?" She asked, her face creased with concern, as she lowered her drink to study Auron.

"Yes." Auron hissed. If she asked him that, one more time...

He had an overwhelming desire, to slice something up into little pieces. What he would not give for a damned Bunyip, or better yet, a Dual Horn, to suddenly materialize in front of him right now. What was wrong with him? Was it possible his pride had been bruised, along with his backside? Surely not. Ego-trips were Jecht's specialty, not his.

Sahna was perplexed by Auron's demeanor. His fuse had grown shorter over the years, but this was unusual, even for him. He looked like he was about to rip their heads off. "This is just part of the training, right? Nothing to worry about. I'm sure it's perfectly normal."

That was it. That's what was really bothering him. The truth was, he did not fully understand what the boy had done. He should not have been able to perform an overdrive, without a weapon. Remie had not channeled his power through a device, as was normal. The boy had simply summoned it... and channeled it through his own body.

"That is not entirely true Sahna. While an overdrive is a perfectly normal manifestation of skill, the way Remie did it was... unusual. I fear I may have erred in my training of him." Auron explained, his eye closing.

He had presumed too much. He was not a Master. He was nothing more than a simple Swordsman. He very well may have pushed Remie too far, too soon. He could be responsible for unleashing something in the boy, that Remie would be unable to control... and it could destroy him. Damnit Auron, what have you done?

"Well, leave it to Remie, to do it different." Gabe said, rubbing his chin. "Look Auron, it may not be as big a deal as you think. We'll just keep a close watch on him for awhile, that's all."

Sahna rose from the chair and walked to the glass wall, to stare out at the city, its metal surfaces shimmering in the late-day heat. "Please Auron, don't blame yourself, this was all my idea in the first place, remember?" She knew that Auron would sooner pluck his good eye from his face, than intentionally harm her son. "I trust you to do what's right."

But you shouldn't Sahna... you shouldn't. Auron thought. His special gift seemed to be leading anyone he cared about, to destruction.

************

The heat-wave had continued through the week, and this evening was nearly as warm as the day had been, the blanket of stars over their heads dense and bright... as Auron and Remie skirted around the crowds of people in the streets, heading toward the marketplace.

Auron was in need of a few supplies, and he had asked Remie to come with him. He needed to talk to the boy, but he wanted to do it in a way that would not alarm him.

"Remie." Auron said, his voice a low rumble through his collar.

"Hmm?" Remie replied distractedly, looking up. He had been carefully measuring the timing of his strides, to synchronize with Auron's.

"Do you recall our discussion, about your overdrive?" Auron asked, keeping his tone even, and casual.

"Uh huh." Remie nodded, swinging his arms in an exaggerated motion, then bringing them tight to his sides... play-acting at something, that only he was privy to.

"Do you feel... comfortable with it, does it still frighten you?" Auron asked, tilting his head down, to watch Remie closely for his reaction.

"No, it doesn't scare me anymore. I understand where it comes from now, and I'm pretty sure it won't happen unless I want it to." Remie answered, rubbing his chin, in a perfect impression of Gabe... eliciting a small smile from the man at his side.

"If it should ever cause you concern, will you promise to tell me?" Auron asked, forming his words as a request from a friend, not as a demand from a superior.

"Yes Auron. I promise." Remie replied, stopping, and tilting his head back to meet Auron's gaze... his night-sky-blue eyes holding a look of profound earnestness.

Not speaking, Auron extended his right arm, holding his hand out. Remie looked at it for a moment in confusion, then a smile lit up his face, as he took Auron's hand and shook it, his small grasp engulfed by Auron's calloused fingers.

Then Auron turned and continued down the road, Remie scurrying to catch up. "Hey Auron, can we go by the bakery? I could really use some cake."

"Yes, of course... all warriors need cake." Auron replied, his shoulders shaking with a deep chuckle.

************

Remie happily gobbled his cake, reaching up to wipe the crumbs that had gathered on his chin, as Auron examined the selection of teas spread out on the display shelf. The shopkeep stood silently to one side, smiling in amusement, as she watched Remie inhaling his treat.

Then Remie suddenly snapped his head down, as he felt something brushing up against his ankle. Remie smiled, as he saw it was just a cat... weaving its way through his legs, to lap up the cake crumbs at his feet.

"Hey cat, you hungry?" Remie asked, as he sank down, pulling off a corner of his confection, and extending it toward the feline. The cat turned its head, rasping the offering from Remie's fingers with its rough tongue.

The shopkeep frowned, as she watched Remie petting the cat's head. "You should leave that cat alone son. It's obviously a stray, look at it... it's a complete mess. Who knows where it's been."

Remie looked up at the woman, a deep frown creasing his brow. "Maybe it just needs a friend."

"That may be true, but you could do much better than befriending that wretched thing. There's a shop just down the way, where you could find a pretty cat... not one that's all scarred-up, like this one."

Hearing the scuff of boot-soles turning against pavement, Remie looked toward the sound, as he watched Auron walking away... his movements stiff, and deliberate.

He knew there were bad people in the world, but Remie still found it hard to believe, that anyone could be as uncaring as this woman was. Scooping the cat up, he rose to his feet... clutching the animal tightly against his chest.

"You're ignorant and cruel, you know that lady?" Remie said, his jaw clenching, as he turned to go after Auron... leaving the woman agape in shock at his vehemence.