DON'T TALK,
JUST WHISPER...
Chapter 3
*****
'I wonder what will come of this? Here I am, trying to avoid the one person in the world
I cannot, and what is the best that can come of this?
'I wish I could answer this, by all means. But all I can come up with is more questions, and
no answers. Everything is simply becoming stranger by the minute.'
With a sigh, Auron shut his journal, put it back into the drawer and stretched in his chair.
It was morning now. He had effectively cheated himself out of sleep for yet another
night. Just a little bit more and he'd set a new personal best.
(knock knock)
"Yes?"
"Sir Auron?" A woman in her late thirties opened the door. Mekia, a nun assigned
to assist the warrior monks, and whom Auron had known for years.
"My gosh man, it's eerier here than in a cemetery." She opened the window,
letting in some much needed sunlight. She almost expected Auron to melt
or something.
"I have a message from lady Gerrya for you."
Auron stood. "Well Mekia, what is it?"
She stifled a giggle as she moved to the door. "*Look out the window.*"
Auron looked to the window. "Is this some joke?"
Mekia shook her head. "I don't think so. It was her request, after all."
'My point proven', he thought. With more than a little worry in his mind, Auron leaned on
the window, taking in some much needed light.
Nothing in sight but the sky, the forest area, and his fellow warrior brothers training in
the walled-in yard.
"Well, there is nothing here. Now what?"
(whoosh) (plick) "Ow!"
Auron rubbed the sore spot right between his eyes where a rock had just hit him.
"Oh darliiing!"
Auron looked down, spotting Gerrya smiling at him from a few stories down.
"Come down here a minute! The day's young; so am I and wanna stay that way! Hurry!"
Auron blinked a few times before closing the window.
He sighed.
Rubbed his forehead.
Cracked his neck.
Looked at Mekia.
"Would you like some tea?" she said before she left, her laughter heard all the way down
the hall.
Picked up his Katana... maybe not.
*
'Odd. Where is everyone?'
He could have sworn he saw everyone down here just a short while ago, but now all the
warriors who tended to train here in the early morning were nowhere to be seen.
He shrugged and looked. Nothing in the main yard, the western wall, or the gates.
(pang!)
"Huh?" The sound came from somewhere in the eastern wall.
"Whoo!"
Shouting? What was going on?
Auron ran to meet the noise, and found all warriors standing in a circle around the wall.
Every now and then a loud bashing sound was heard.
It sounded like rubber hitting the wall, hard.
"Excuse me," Auron said as he wedged his way among the crowd. He was stopped
as someone yanked his shirt back.
"Auron, you hit jackpot!" a warrior named Derek told Auron. "She got some moves."
"What?" He released himself of the grip. "What do you mean Derek?"
Derek laughed. "Come with me, my friend. Let me show you."
With Derek's help, Auron finally emerged from the crowd, just as another wave of
laughter erupted.
Now he knew why.
"Told you she had some moves."
Gerrya was apparently a blitzer of sorts. She had just landed from what appeared to be a
high jump, the ball landing directly in front of her.
Gerrya lifted her head, opened one eye, spotting Auron.
Auron never muttered good morning before she had hugged him by the neck, and placed
a kiss quickly on his lips. He was shocked. Not only had she moved faster than he thought
she could, but he had not been able to sense her movements. There was something
about this woman.
With a loud 'smooching' sound, Gerrya parted from Auron's lips, keeping her arms
tightly around his neck. "Mornin' handsome."
Auron could feel everyone's stare. He was about to push her off a bit, but she released
herself and walked a few steps from him. She turned just enough for an eye to be seen
in profile. "Just a minute handsome."
Gerrya retrieved her ball. "Alright, last move of the day! You got the Gil, I got the skill!
Anyone up for the bet?"
"Derek, what is she doing?" Auron asked.
"She's doing any trick shots you want."
"Well!? Anyone?"
A female warrior came up to her, whispering something in her ear. Gerrya giggled, then
inspected the crowd behind the woman.
"Sure. I'll give you the female discount, 250 gil."
"Done." The woman paid Gerrya, then moved back into her place.
Gerrya shook her head. She walked back three steps, setting the ball to meet the wall.
She took in a few deep breathes, then kicked the ball hard. It hit the wall hard, but at the
current angle, took to the sharp left.
It hit someone in the stomach, leaving whomever gasping audibly for air.
It hit the wall again.
She returned it with a knee-bash.
The ball took the right, hitting someone in the face, knocking whomever to the floor.
It hit the wall again.
This time though, Gerrya jumped over the ball skilfully. It went to the woman whom
had requested the shot; she hit with her fist, sending the ball to Gerrya once more.
In a masterful move, Gerrya shifted herself and hit the ball with a perfect spike movement,
hurdling it violently back to the ground, aimed at a particular someone.
(poing)
Auron caught the ball scant inches from his temple. He looked at it, the to the woman,
whom had mysteriously disappeared.
Then at Gerrya.
She landed perfectly, almost like gliding to the floor.
The crowd once more clapped, some whistling.
Gerrya rose and began to thank the crowd as only a blitzer did. "Thank you, thank you!
I teach on Sundays; just and hour a week, really cheap!"
Derek put his arm around Auron's shoulders, and patted his stomach hard. "Like I said,
jackpot!"
"You must mean me?"
Auron almost laughed at Gerrya's stereotypical 'innocent' pose as she stood before them.
Hands behind her, her legs tilt on each other, and the most sweet expression on her face.
She was a stone throw from becoming a serial killer.
Gerrya smiled and seized Auron's arm. "Gotta steal him for a while."
Derek brought back his arm and put his hands up. "All yours, all yours."
She stuck her tongue out at him. With quick movements, she quickly escaped from the
crowd, some of which were still helping their dazed comrades to their feet.
"Hope you got some kind of plan for today," she casually said as she pulled him around
the yard.
Auron thought for a moment. *I'd like circulation in my arm back, that's for sure.* He tried to
nudge himself free, but the grip simply increased. "No, not really."
"Well good! 'Cause I do!"
She finally let go of his arm, stepping right in front of him. "You're teaching me how to
be a warrior monk today!"
"I beg your pardon?" He couldn't just have heard that.
"You heard me. Get your knife-"
"Katana."
"Whatever; Let's go to the forest and do some serious training!" She puffed up her
cheeks to mimic a 'Tough guy' look, that looked so ridiculous on her, Auron almost
laughed.
"Well, I- off!"
With an expression of supreme victory on her face, Gerrya proudly retrieved her hand
from Auron's stomach. "Gotta be faster than that boy!"
She smiled and skipped to the entrance of the yard-exit. "Come on! Hurry!
Get your knife!"
Auron rubbed his stomach. Gerrya's surprising strength caught him off guard.
What a day he picked to not wear his body armor.
"Hurry! You don't wanna get beat by a 'GIRL', do ya!?"
What a day indeed.
*****
The forest surrounding the Warrior Monk's quarters was as dense as the forest surrounding
the Moonflow. Only this one wasn't infested with many large fiends; only smaller,
easier ones. It was the perfect place for an amateur to train.
Or Gerrya.
"So tell me, mister big Monk, what's your story?"
Auron and Gerrya had been walking for hours. They had long since strayed from the main
road, but fortunately, he knew this forest like the back of his hand.
After a few more minutes, they reached an ideal location. A bare spot of about 5 square
meters, all around surrounded by the forest.
"Very well, I think this place will do."
"OK!"
Gerrya bounced to a ready position, ready to attack anything.
"So uh, what now?"
Auron shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "I very much doubt you'd want
to take on any fiends with your bare hands. Trust me, it's not a pretty site."
Gerrya turned with her hand behind her head and forcing a shy laugh. "Well, don't be angry
at me! I'm a begginer, remember?"
"Even for a begginer, common sense usually kicks in, in these kind of situations."
Gerrya pouted. Finally, a point in his favor.
She stomped her foot and looked to the side. "Well, then teach me how to do it right,
mister Big Monk!" She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Fine."
Auron unsheathed his Katana, hoisting it over his shoulder as Gerrya took note. He picked
up a rock from the ground.
"Stand back."
Gerrya nodded and moved behind him. Auron threw the rock hard into the woods.
Something moved, and then something roared. Loud.
"First rule: Always lure the quarry to you."
"Should I take notes? Look!"
With much noise, a large Raldo emerged from the forest. It stretched it's arms menacingly
and roared. It stood motionless for a few seconds, ready to charge at the slightest
movement.
"Well, kill it already!"
"Quiet."
"How can you be so calm!?"
"Quiet."
The Raldo didn't miss Gerrya's fear scent, so it roared once more and took his position.
"It's gonna charge us!" Her voice was high pitched.
The Raldo seemed to take a disliking of Gerrya, so it roared once more and charged,
aiming for Gerrya.
"A-Auron!"
Auron stood stil for a few seconds, waiting for the fiend to come closer. And closer.
"Auron, a little help!" she yelled as she began to run.
Gerrya closed her eyes as her running away attempt failed due to fear. She shut her eyes
and put her arms protectively over her face. She heard the fiends strong steps.
And then a hard sound. Like something splitting metal.
Then a scream.
She opened one eye, only to see the fiend fall to the ground in a deathcry. It evaporated
into pyreflies as soon as it hit the ground.
With a heavy sigh of relief, Gerrya sank to the ground.
"Rule three," he said as he forced his sword into the ground. "Never run. It'll just chase
you."
"I'll take your word for it." She fell back on the ground, closing her eyes at the bright sun.
"I sure will."
"I thought you wanted a lesson?"
She sat back up. "Are you challenging me?"
"I'm merely doing as you requested."
"You are!"
Auron blinked.
"Alright hotshot," she said as she stood. "Give me that thing."
Auron stepped aside, letting his Katana be taken by her.
"I'll show a trick or-" Gerrya stared at the unusually heavy weapon. She pulled hard, but
only managed to lift it a few centimeters before she dropped it. She looked at Auron.
"Aha, right..."
Using both hands, she pulled with all her strength. Finally, she managed to set the base
on her leg, but she still had trouble with it.
"Th-there! Ha! I told ya!"
Auron smiled. "Good. Now, let's see you swing."
"Huh? Oh uh, right!"
Somehow, she managed to swing the sword, much too big for her size, but the momentum
was too much too handle, She let go of the sword, which flew into the woods, and fell
down herself. Auron smiled.
"It's ok. No one gets it the first time," he said as he offered his hand to help her up.
"Shut up, you big meanie!" She hesitated, but accepted his help. She rubbed her bottom
and squinted. The fall was harder than she had thought. She looked at Auron, but he had
turned away, keeping his hands behind his back.
"Hey! Don't you know you never turn your back to a lady!?"
Auron was silent for a few moments, but he eventually turned, looking her right in the eyes.
"Why are we doing this?"
She blinked. She wasn't expecting that.
"I don't need this. It's simply not for me."
"What? Friendship?"
"No, this. This so called 'engagement'. I do not want it, and I am sorry to say, I doubt I'll go
through with it."
"Auron, Auron, Auron," she said as she walked to him. She stood right in front of him.
He was one damn good-looking man.
"Do you believe in fate?" she asked.
Auron thought for a moment. "I would have to say I do. Otherwise, I doubt I would have
ever been involved in such a situation."
She laughed. "I for one don't. I don't like the thought that all my life is already planned out
for me. Sure, dying is, but what about all in between?"
She walked away a bit, spinning a few times. "I love living. If I thought that there was a thing
called fate, then for sure I would never'd been a blitzer. Or so happy.
"Life to me is one big adventure. I like not knowing where I'm going to be tomorrow. Who
I'll meet..." She walked back to him, running a finger over an exposed portion of his chest.
"... or who I'm gonna be with."
She looked into his eyes. It was evident he was annoyed, but there was something else in
his eyes. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "I like you, Auron."
Auron shook his head. "Thank you, I'm flattered. But, why are you letting yourself be put
through this? Why are you accepting this arranged engagement?"
She smiled. "Why are you?"
"..."
"Don't tell me it's an honor thing. You're a grown man, you know. You have the option to
just say 'no'."
"I- Its a bit more complicated than that."
"You have no idea how I told daddy off once he told me about this. I was furious. But then I
thought..." She put her hand on her chin and walked away from him again. "This is just
another adventure. Who knows where it'll lead?"
"What if it leads to nothing?"
"Then it led to nothing, of course. No harm will come to either of us, and we'll both be on
our merry way!"
This woman was fascinating. She was really nothing what he had expected. She had just
answered every doubt he had about his whole situation.
Except one.
"Tell me, Lady Gerrya..."
"I told you. Just Gerrya."
"Gerrya, if what you say is true? Then what do you expect to come of this?"
She stood for a few seconds, then turned about in her 'cute' position again. "It's getting late.
Let's head back!"
She skipped ahead, leaving Auron behind.
"This is too strange," he whispered to himself.
"Hey! I found your knife!"
*****
After another long walk, they were only about 20 minutes away from the compound.
Gerrya had not said a word during the walk, and he felt unsure of what to say.
'Just a little longer', he thought. He was going to be glad once they got back and he didn't
have to face the silence anymore.
"We'll be there soon," he finally said.
Gerrya spared a glance, nodded and drifted her attention to her side.
'I wonder what she's thinking', he thought. He was going to say something, but she abruptly
pulled on his arm.
"Gerrya, what are you doing!" She pulled his hard to the side, but didn't utter a word of
explanation.
'Uh oh,' he thought. 'I hope she's not...', but he never got the chance to finish that thought.
Nor was he right, anyway.
"Look. Look at that."
She pointed to an accumulation of trees. He had trouble finding what she was looking at,
but he eventually did.
Through the branches and leaves, the sunlight seeped through, creating a sort of shine of
gold and yellow that was much more intense than the normal sunlight from the setting sun.
"It's pretty, isn't it?"
"It's sunlight. Nothing more."
"Don't look at it! Just, feel it."
She closed her eyes. He shrugged. It was only a light brighter than normal, but decided to
try it himself. He closed his eyes too, breathing in deeply.
This wasn't what he had expected. The light on his face made him feel strange. Good. At
peace. It felt good.
He felt Gerrya move closer to him. It was strange, since she was always groping him
whenever a chance was given, but this felt very different. It felt...
Right.
Without even thinking about it, his arm went around her shoulders, bringing her closer to
him. She didn't resist, and even layed her head on him.
"Thanks," she said softly.
*
Finally, they made it back to the compound. Auron didn't feel bad over what had happened,
but he wasn't exactly sure why he had done it either.
"Well, this was a nice day, don't you think?"
Auron nodded. "It was... nice."
Gerrya smiled, and began to walk ahead, leaving him standing in the gate.
"By the way Auron," she said before she was completely out of talking range. "Thanks."
She went into the building.
Auron stood for a few moments. He thought about the day. It had been most unusual. He
only wanted to be free of this, but now...
He still wanted it.
He had to want it. He didn't want this.
Did he?
"Hmm... better go inside."
End of Chapter 3
A.N.
Now I have a real excuse for not updating. My computer 'died', due to an overload on the
RAM, and all my files were destroyed. This was actually written some time ago, but I had
to retype it, and I took the opportunity to make it a little better. Also, I've been watching a
huge amount of anime recently, and have taken a fondness to 'You're Under Arrest!',
so I've been dedicating more time to TV, and less to writing. Don't worry, since I worked
out a more efficient schedule to allow more work to be done on this. Thanks for waiting.
'Till next time…
BlackDragon
JUST WHISPER...
Chapter 3
*****
'I wonder what will come of this? Here I am, trying to avoid the one person in the world
I cannot, and what is the best that can come of this?
'I wish I could answer this, by all means. But all I can come up with is more questions, and
no answers. Everything is simply becoming stranger by the minute.'
With a sigh, Auron shut his journal, put it back into the drawer and stretched in his chair.
It was morning now. He had effectively cheated himself out of sleep for yet another
night. Just a little bit more and he'd set a new personal best.
(knock knock)
"Yes?"
"Sir Auron?" A woman in her late thirties opened the door. Mekia, a nun assigned
to assist the warrior monks, and whom Auron had known for years.
"My gosh man, it's eerier here than in a cemetery." She opened the window,
letting in some much needed sunlight. She almost expected Auron to melt
or something.
"I have a message from lady Gerrya for you."
Auron stood. "Well Mekia, what is it?"
She stifled a giggle as she moved to the door. "*Look out the window.*"
Auron looked to the window. "Is this some joke?"
Mekia shook her head. "I don't think so. It was her request, after all."
'My point proven', he thought. With more than a little worry in his mind, Auron leaned on
the window, taking in some much needed light.
Nothing in sight but the sky, the forest area, and his fellow warrior brothers training in
the walled-in yard.
"Well, there is nothing here. Now what?"
(whoosh) (plick) "Ow!"
Auron rubbed the sore spot right between his eyes where a rock had just hit him.
"Oh darliiing!"
Auron looked down, spotting Gerrya smiling at him from a few stories down.
"Come down here a minute! The day's young; so am I and wanna stay that way! Hurry!"
Auron blinked a few times before closing the window.
He sighed.
Rubbed his forehead.
Cracked his neck.
Looked at Mekia.
"Would you like some tea?" she said before she left, her laughter heard all the way down
the hall.
Picked up his Katana... maybe not.
*
'Odd. Where is everyone?'
He could have sworn he saw everyone down here just a short while ago, but now all the
warriors who tended to train here in the early morning were nowhere to be seen.
He shrugged and looked. Nothing in the main yard, the western wall, or the gates.
(pang!)
"Huh?" The sound came from somewhere in the eastern wall.
"Whoo!"
Shouting? What was going on?
Auron ran to meet the noise, and found all warriors standing in a circle around the wall.
Every now and then a loud bashing sound was heard.
It sounded like rubber hitting the wall, hard.
"Excuse me," Auron said as he wedged his way among the crowd. He was stopped
as someone yanked his shirt back.
"Auron, you hit jackpot!" a warrior named Derek told Auron. "She got some moves."
"What?" He released himself of the grip. "What do you mean Derek?"
Derek laughed. "Come with me, my friend. Let me show you."
With Derek's help, Auron finally emerged from the crowd, just as another wave of
laughter erupted.
Now he knew why.
"Told you she had some moves."
Gerrya was apparently a blitzer of sorts. She had just landed from what appeared to be a
high jump, the ball landing directly in front of her.
Gerrya lifted her head, opened one eye, spotting Auron.
Auron never muttered good morning before she had hugged him by the neck, and placed
a kiss quickly on his lips. He was shocked. Not only had she moved faster than he thought
she could, but he had not been able to sense her movements. There was something
about this woman.
With a loud 'smooching' sound, Gerrya parted from Auron's lips, keeping her arms
tightly around his neck. "Mornin' handsome."
Auron could feel everyone's stare. He was about to push her off a bit, but she released
herself and walked a few steps from him. She turned just enough for an eye to be seen
in profile. "Just a minute handsome."
Gerrya retrieved her ball. "Alright, last move of the day! You got the Gil, I got the skill!
Anyone up for the bet?"
"Derek, what is she doing?" Auron asked.
"She's doing any trick shots you want."
"Well!? Anyone?"
A female warrior came up to her, whispering something in her ear. Gerrya giggled, then
inspected the crowd behind the woman.
"Sure. I'll give you the female discount, 250 gil."
"Done." The woman paid Gerrya, then moved back into her place.
Gerrya shook her head. She walked back three steps, setting the ball to meet the wall.
She took in a few deep breathes, then kicked the ball hard. It hit the wall hard, but at the
current angle, took to the sharp left.
It hit someone in the stomach, leaving whomever gasping audibly for air.
It hit the wall again.
She returned it with a knee-bash.
The ball took the right, hitting someone in the face, knocking whomever to the floor.
It hit the wall again.
This time though, Gerrya jumped over the ball skilfully. It went to the woman whom
had requested the shot; she hit with her fist, sending the ball to Gerrya once more.
In a masterful move, Gerrya shifted herself and hit the ball with a perfect spike movement,
hurdling it violently back to the ground, aimed at a particular someone.
(poing)
Auron caught the ball scant inches from his temple. He looked at it, the to the woman,
whom had mysteriously disappeared.
Then at Gerrya.
She landed perfectly, almost like gliding to the floor.
The crowd once more clapped, some whistling.
Gerrya rose and began to thank the crowd as only a blitzer did. "Thank you, thank you!
I teach on Sundays; just and hour a week, really cheap!"
Derek put his arm around Auron's shoulders, and patted his stomach hard. "Like I said,
jackpot!"
"You must mean me?"
Auron almost laughed at Gerrya's stereotypical 'innocent' pose as she stood before them.
Hands behind her, her legs tilt on each other, and the most sweet expression on her face.
She was a stone throw from becoming a serial killer.
Gerrya smiled and seized Auron's arm. "Gotta steal him for a while."
Derek brought back his arm and put his hands up. "All yours, all yours."
She stuck her tongue out at him. With quick movements, she quickly escaped from the
crowd, some of which were still helping their dazed comrades to their feet.
"Hope you got some kind of plan for today," she casually said as she pulled him around
the yard.
Auron thought for a moment. *I'd like circulation in my arm back, that's for sure.* He tried to
nudge himself free, but the grip simply increased. "No, not really."
"Well good! 'Cause I do!"
She finally let go of his arm, stepping right in front of him. "You're teaching me how to
be a warrior monk today!"
"I beg your pardon?" He couldn't just have heard that.
"You heard me. Get your knife-"
"Katana."
"Whatever; Let's go to the forest and do some serious training!" She puffed up her
cheeks to mimic a 'Tough guy' look, that looked so ridiculous on her, Auron almost
laughed.
"Well, I- off!"
With an expression of supreme victory on her face, Gerrya proudly retrieved her hand
from Auron's stomach. "Gotta be faster than that boy!"
She smiled and skipped to the entrance of the yard-exit. "Come on! Hurry!
Get your knife!"
Auron rubbed his stomach. Gerrya's surprising strength caught him off guard.
What a day he picked to not wear his body armor.
"Hurry! You don't wanna get beat by a 'GIRL', do ya!?"
What a day indeed.
*****
The forest surrounding the Warrior Monk's quarters was as dense as the forest surrounding
the Moonflow. Only this one wasn't infested with many large fiends; only smaller,
easier ones. It was the perfect place for an amateur to train.
Or Gerrya.
"So tell me, mister big Monk, what's your story?"
Auron and Gerrya had been walking for hours. They had long since strayed from the main
road, but fortunately, he knew this forest like the back of his hand.
After a few more minutes, they reached an ideal location. A bare spot of about 5 square
meters, all around surrounded by the forest.
"Very well, I think this place will do."
"OK!"
Gerrya bounced to a ready position, ready to attack anything.
"So uh, what now?"
Auron shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "I very much doubt you'd want
to take on any fiends with your bare hands. Trust me, it's not a pretty site."
Gerrya turned with her hand behind her head and forcing a shy laugh. "Well, don't be angry
at me! I'm a begginer, remember?"
"Even for a begginer, common sense usually kicks in, in these kind of situations."
Gerrya pouted. Finally, a point in his favor.
She stomped her foot and looked to the side. "Well, then teach me how to do it right,
mister Big Monk!" She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Fine."
Auron unsheathed his Katana, hoisting it over his shoulder as Gerrya took note. He picked
up a rock from the ground.
"Stand back."
Gerrya nodded and moved behind him. Auron threw the rock hard into the woods.
Something moved, and then something roared. Loud.
"First rule: Always lure the quarry to you."
"Should I take notes? Look!"
With much noise, a large Raldo emerged from the forest. It stretched it's arms menacingly
and roared. It stood motionless for a few seconds, ready to charge at the slightest
movement.
"Well, kill it already!"
"Quiet."
"How can you be so calm!?"
"Quiet."
The Raldo didn't miss Gerrya's fear scent, so it roared once more and took his position.
"It's gonna charge us!" Her voice was high pitched.
The Raldo seemed to take a disliking of Gerrya, so it roared once more and charged,
aiming for Gerrya.
"A-Auron!"
Auron stood stil for a few seconds, waiting for the fiend to come closer. And closer.
"Auron, a little help!" she yelled as she began to run.
Gerrya closed her eyes as her running away attempt failed due to fear. She shut her eyes
and put her arms protectively over her face. She heard the fiends strong steps.
And then a hard sound. Like something splitting metal.
Then a scream.
She opened one eye, only to see the fiend fall to the ground in a deathcry. It evaporated
into pyreflies as soon as it hit the ground.
With a heavy sigh of relief, Gerrya sank to the ground.
"Rule three," he said as he forced his sword into the ground. "Never run. It'll just chase
you."
"I'll take your word for it." She fell back on the ground, closing her eyes at the bright sun.
"I sure will."
"I thought you wanted a lesson?"
She sat back up. "Are you challenging me?"
"I'm merely doing as you requested."
"You are!"
Auron blinked.
"Alright hotshot," she said as she stood. "Give me that thing."
Auron stepped aside, letting his Katana be taken by her.
"I'll show a trick or-" Gerrya stared at the unusually heavy weapon. She pulled hard, but
only managed to lift it a few centimeters before she dropped it. She looked at Auron.
"Aha, right..."
Using both hands, she pulled with all her strength. Finally, she managed to set the base
on her leg, but she still had trouble with it.
"Th-there! Ha! I told ya!"
Auron smiled. "Good. Now, let's see you swing."
"Huh? Oh uh, right!"
Somehow, she managed to swing the sword, much too big for her size, but the momentum
was too much too handle, She let go of the sword, which flew into the woods, and fell
down herself. Auron smiled.
"It's ok. No one gets it the first time," he said as he offered his hand to help her up.
"Shut up, you big meanie!" She hesitated, but accepted his help. She rubbed her bottom
and squinted. The fall was harder than she had thought. She looked at Auron, but he had
turned away, keeping his hands behind his back.
"Hey! Don't you know you never turn your back to a lady!?"
Auron was silent for a few moments, but he eventually turned, looking her right in the eyes.
"Why are we doing this?"
She blinked. She wasn't expecting that.
"I don't need this. It's simply not for me."
"What? Friendship?"
"No, this. This so called 'engagement'. I do not want it, and I am sorry to say, I doubt I'll go
through with it."
"Auron, Auron, Auron," she said as she walked to him. She stood right in front of him.
He was one damn good-looking man.
"Do you believe in fate?" she asked.
Auron thought for a moment. "I would have to say I do. Otherwise, I doubt I would have
ever been involved in such a situation."
She laughed. "I for one don't. I don't like the thought that all my life is already planned out
for me. Sure, dying is, but what about all in between?"
She walked away a bit, spinning a few times. "I love living. If I thought that there was a thing
called fate, then for sure I would never'd been a blitzer. Or so happy.
"Life to me is one big adventure. I like not knowing where I'm going to be tomorrow. Who
I'll meet..." She walked back to him, running a finger over an exposed portion of his chest.
"... or who I'm gonna be with."
She looked into his eyes. It was evident he was annoyed, but there was something else in
his eyes. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "I like you, Auron."
Auron shook his head. "Thank you, I'm flattered. But, why are you letting yourself be put
through this? Why are you accepting this arranged engagement?"
She smiled. "Why are you?"
"..."
"Don't tell me it's an honor thing. You're a grown man, you know. You have the option to
just say 'no'."
"I- Its a bit more complicated than that."
"You have no idea how I told daddy off once he told me about this. I was furious. But then I
thought..." She put her hand on her chin and walked away from him again. "This is just
another adventure. Who knows where it'll lead?"
"What if it leads to nothing?"
"Then it led to nothing, of course. No harm will come to either of us, and we'll both be on
our merry way!"
This woman was fascinating. She was really nothing what he had expected. She had just
answered every doubt he had about his whole situation.
Except one.
"Tell me, Lady Gerrya..."
"I told you. Just Gerrya."
"Gerrya, if what you say is true? Then what do you expect to come of this?"
She stood for a few seconds, then turned about in her 'cute' position again. "It's getting late.
Let's head back!"
She skipped ahead, leaving Auron behind.
"This is too strange," he whispered to himself.
"Hey! I found your knife!"
*****
After another long walk, they were only about 20 minutes away from the compound.
Gerrya had not said a word during the walk, and he felt unsure of what to say.
'Just a little longer', he thought. He was going to be glad once they got back and he didn't
have to face the silence anymore.
"We'll be there soon," he finally said.
Gerrya spared a glance, nodded and drifted her attention to her side.
'I wonder what she's thinking', he thought. He was going to say something, but she abruptly
pulled on his arm.
"Gerrya, what are you doing!" She pulled his hard to the side, but didn't utter a word of
explanation.
'Uh oh,' he thought. 'I hope she's not...', but he never got the chance to finish that thought.
Nor was he right, anyway.
"Look. Look at that."
She pointed to an accumulation of trees. He had trouble finding what she was looking at,
but he eventually did.
Through the branches and leaves, the sunlight seeped through, creating a sort of shine of
gold and yellow that was much more intense than the normal sunlight from the setting sun.
"It's pretty, isn't it?"
"It's sunlight. Nothing more."
"Don't look at it! Just, feel it."
She closed her eyes. He shrugged. It was only a light brighter than normal, but decided to
try it himself. He closed his eyes too, breathing in deeply.
This wasn't what he had expected. The light on his face made him feel strange. Good. At
peace. It felt good.
He felt Gerrya move closer to him. It was strange, since she was always groping him
whenever a chance was given, but this felt very different. It felt...
Right.
Without even thinking about it, his arm went around her shoulders, bringing her closer to
him. She didn't resist, and even layed her head on him.
"Thanks," she said softly.
*
Finally, they made it back to the compound. Auron didn't feel bad over what had happened,
but he wasn't exactly sure why he had done it either.
"Well, this was a nice day, don't you think?"
Auron nodded. "It was... nice."
Gerrya smiled, and began to walk ahead, leaving him standing in the gate.
"By the way Auron," she said before she was completely out of talking range. "Thanks."
She went into the building.
Auron stood for a few moments. He thought about the day. It had been most unusual. He
only wanted to be free of this, but now...
He still wanted it.
He had to want it. He didn't want this.
Did he?
"Hmm... better go inside."
End of Chapter 3
A.N.
Now I have a real excuse for not updating. My computer 'died', due to an overload on the
RAM, and all my files were destroyed. This was actually written some time ago, but I had
to retype it, and I took the opportunity to make it a little better. Also, I've been watching a
huge amount of anime recently, and have taken a fondness to 'You're Under Arrest!',
so I've been dedicating more time to TV, and less to writing. Don't worry, since I worked
out a more efficient schedule to allow more work to be done on this. Thanks for waiting.
'Till next time…
BlackDragon