~*~Yeah more chappy's!!!!! Go me…well, meh, not really… :looks and sees cheese: Behold the power of cheese!!!!~*~

"What do you mean only 4?" Wakka demanded to the business clerk.

The townsfolk and other passer-by's where walking around the building, silently speaking about the disrupting man. Wakka stared at the woman in disgust and pounded a fist into the clerks desk.

Lulu walked up behind him and lightly pushed Wakka aside, "What is the problem?" she asked in a quiet yet stern tone.

The clerk looked as if she had done something wrong. In her heart though, she knew there was nothing she could do to please them. She gulped down her freight, left by the Besaid guardian and rubbed her hands, "I'm sorry, but I can only offer you 4 Chocobo's right now."

Lulu looked at Wakka and gave him a cold stare for being so ignorant. Returning to the clerk, she wore a small smile upon her face as she hid her embarrassment, "We will take them. Thank you for your generosity." After apologizing for the guardian's ignorance, she walked outside, pulling Wakka by his suspender strap. "What is your problem?" she demanded once they were outside. 

The tempered man stood there and wiggled Lulu's hand off of his clothes, "Noth'n."

Lulu sighed and held her head. The mage heard the familiar sound of Chocobo squeaks and chirps and turned around to find that the Chocobo's had arrived. Tidus ran past the two Besaid islanders blindly, acting as if the huge birds were his new toy.  

"Wow," he said in amazement, "these are cool!" After walking around the bird several times, he mounted the Chocobo and almost immediately fell off.  Once he regained his balance, he seated himself on the Chocobo's back and grab the reins.

Yuna watched as Tidus continued to act stupid and adolescent about the huge birds. The young Summoner almost came to the point where she was about to crack up from Tidus' silliness. Suddenly she was picked up by the strong arms of the blue Ronso who then placed her on an available Chocobo. She held on tight to the bird as the huge feline mounted the bird with some difficulty.

Tidus noticed Kimahri's dilemma and chuckled. "See Yuna, I ain't the only one!"

Lulu glanced her eyes towards the young Besaid islander and as she did, found him grunting under his breath with his arms crossed. She sighed in annoyance and asked Wakka politely to help her on the gigantic Chocobo. He grabbed her by the waist and then lifted her up gently so she was placed securely on the bird. After seeing that Lulu was secure, he then hopped on the Chocobo and grabbed the reins.

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"Oh no, there gonna leave without me!" I panicked while searching for my things in the inn's bedroom. I scattered around the bedroom as I threw pillows, lifted bed sheets, and looked into drawers. I couldn't find my goggles that I wore around my neck! "Where are you?" I asked myself and then collapsed to my knees to look under the bed. I lifted up the sheet and sure enough, there were my goggles. I reached under the bed and sprawled out my fingers to get my Al Bhed goggles. I inched closer and sucked in my belly to have a better chance squeezing under the bed. I reached further, but still no luck.

Auron exited the bathroom and gently closed the door behind him. He started walking down the hallway and passed the room in which they stayed in the night before. Not paying any attention, he continued walking down the hallway, and out towards the exit. Reaching the doorway, he squinted his eyes from the extreme light that the sun was giving off.

"Auron!" Tidus yelled. The red warrior looked over to the group who was on the Chocobo's and started walking towards them. He saw a free Chocobo before him and placed his hand on the birds side as a calm petting gesture.

"Did you see Rikku?" Lulu asked.

Auron thought for a moment and placed his right hand to his side again. "Most likely she is still in the room." He answered in his stotic tone.

"Well go get her!" Tidus said. He watched as the ex-monk walked further to the inn before saying anything more. "We don't have day to find her and wait for you." Tidus chuckled at his short pun.

Auron's cheek hugged a smile smirk form the corner of his lips. Fool."You want to say that to my face?" he sneered as he continued to walk.

Tidus waved his hands in front of him for protection, "No, no, no, that's ok!"

Auron chuckled under his breath and headed into the entryway, "That's what I thought." He muttered.

The red cloaked warrior entered the inn one more time and then walked back to the rented quarters. Finding the room that they had just spent the night before in, he pushed the door open with his hand and was startled at the picture before him. Rikku had her whole back under the bed and was now stuck between the bed and the floor.

I heard footsteps enter the room and I laughed in thankfulness. "Oh thank god! Please, help me! I got stuck and now I can't get out." I struggled again and tried to wiggle my way out of the tight spot.

Auron watched as she wiggled her self in front of him and he couldn't help but scratch his grey collar in front of his chin. He thought about how cute she looked as she sat there and wiggled around under the bed.

I wiggled myself again and grunted in frustration, "Hello? Anyone there?" Then I heard silence. I then moaned in defeat as the thought of the group abandoning me and being stuck under this bed ran in my mind.

"What did I tell you bout drinking from my jug?" he asked me.

I opened my eyes and cheered, "Auron! Oh thank god Auron, help me please!!!"

Auron walked closer to her and stopped right beside her. He looked down and laughed lightly at her predicament.

I stopped cheering and heard Auron laughing. What could he be laughing at? I turned my head to his direction and saw his boots. "Heeeey, what are you laughing at?"

He didn't answer me; he just continued to laugh. I asked him again what was so funny and he still didn't answer.

"You're a big meanie Auron, you really are!" saying this I lifted myself up as much as I could to stretch my arm out to grab his leg. He looked down and felt my hands on his leg and chuckled again from behind his collar. I tried my hardest to hit his leg in order for him to stop fooling around, but in my attempt to do so, I got more annoyed at him laughing at me.

"Now what's so funny?" I asked with some anger in my tone as my arm stopped hitting him and slammed into the carpet.

"Your struggling makes it seem like the bed has legs and arms." He then chuckled again and kneeled down to my level. Looking to my left, I saw Auron's face from the small space between the bed and the floor. "Having difficulties?" he chuckled.

"Hardy har har har, very funny." I pouted in my brat voice. I wanted to get out of this space now because I was beginning to feel very cramped.

Then again, there was the fact that I was seeing Auron smile.

And seeing him smile was a rare sight.

Sighing in defeat, I looked over to him, "Ok, I surrender, I look like a jackass, now can you please help me?" I asked while giving him my puppy eyes.

The man stopped laughing and just looked at her with a small smile. The way she was looking at him made him feel different inside; almost happy. Soon as he stopped laughing, he stood up and took his left arm out of the sling position and lifted up the bed.

I slid out from underneath the bed and sat on the ground. Auron lowered the bed to the floor again and then dusted off his hands. I stood up, brushing off my shirt and my legs from the dust as I looked at Auron. He had his arm out of that 'sling' position and I couldn't help but think about how hot he was. Wait a minute…he's WAY older than me! Being a man as old as he was though, he certainly had my attention! My mouth opened slightly and I grabbed a piece of my hair to twirl in my fingers as I sat in amazement.

Auron moved his neck around in circles and closed his eyes every time he heard a crack noise from within. After his neck had popped and cracked, he wiped his hand over his hair to flatten it against his head.

I watched in awe; he was so attractive. Everything he did drew me closer to him and made me think of the opportunity that was lying in my hands. All I wanted to do was go over to him and just embrace him with a huge hug and maybe give him a kiss. Maybe I was just a fool to think so. Thinking such a thing for such a young girl like me though was a bit absurd. I didn't care though! He was simply amazing, and I wanted him; I wanted him to see me for who I was and like me for it because all he had done to me was ignore me.

Auron looked over to Rikku and scratched his collar. Seeing the Al Bhed lost in a daze made him feel uncomfortable about himself. He picked up his coat and placed it back over his shoulder and then placed his arm in the sling position once more.

Watching him return to his old self withdrew me from my dream. Coming back to reality now, I wanted to thank him for being so nice. I walked over to him and looked up to him with my hands behind my back. I then reach out and slowly gave him a hug.

"Thanks for helping me out." I said softly. Auron looked down and didn't say anything to me in response. I didn't care though; just giving him a hug was enough and all I wanted to do. Thinking that he wasn't going to do or say anymore, I looked up to him and smiled as I began to step away from him. I turned around, beginning to head out of the room when I was suddenly stopped by his arm wrapped around my neck.  The pressure he brought on me made me think what he was going to do. Startled, I followed his lead, still slightly confused. I followed his actions and then realized that he was returning my hug with his own. A huge smile slapped on my face and I turned around so I could squeeze him tighter for his gratitude.  Being my bright self that I am, I squeezed him a little harder than usual while making a cute grunt noise. "Auron, oui yna dra knaydacd*" I said in Al Bhed and stepped away from him and danced in a little circle. He bowed his head as a "your welcome" and headed for the door. I followed behind him and we exited the building.

We walked over the gang where they were whistling as if something happened. Walking closer to them, I asked what the problem was.

"What took you guys so long?" Tidus sneered as his arms were crossed.

I opened my mouth in shock that he would dare say such a thing! I held up my hand and shook the goggles, "I left my goggles!"

"Whatever!" Wakka laughed.

"Really, I did! And they were under the bed. Then I got stuck under the bed-"

Tidus and Wakka exchanged words between them silently and chuckled afterwards. I walked over to them and looked up to them, "What? You don't believe me?" I asked again. My voice must have sounded perkier than demanding again and it caused them to crack up. I stomped my foot and made a fist. "It did happen though! Really! I got stuck and Auron helped me!" I turned my attention to Auron who had now mounted a Chocobo and waited patiently for everyone else. "Auron,"  I pouted, "tell them!" I stomped my foot again.

He traveled in my direction on the Chocobo and stopped in front of me. He cleared his throat and began to announce what had happened, "She drank from my jug again and assumed that the dust bunnies were fiends."

I opened my mouth in shock and sucked my teeth as everyone on the Chocobo's sat there and giggled at me. I placed a hand on my hip and tilted my head to the side as I shook it in Auron's direction. I stood there and couldn't help it myself but to laugh with them as I watched Auron chuckle.

He held out his hand to me and I grabbed it as he lifted me up and onto the Chocobo. I slowly turned my head around to him and was simply baffled by his words. He smiled slightly and tightened his legs against the Chocobo which caused it to start walking down the path.

Tidus and Kimahri's Chocobo led the group down the wooded area and into a forest. Tidus began to goof around on the Chocobo, and every now and then would the Chocobo become irritated and turn its head to snap at him.  I laughed in amusement as the sight of the bird and Tidus yelling at each other was something rare.

I looked to Auron who was behind me and smiled. "You didn't have to say that ya know?"

Auron scratched his collar and gave a "hmph" in amusement. "Forgive me."

I leaned in closer to him and thought about how I might have started to break the ice on this guy. He looked down to me and had a confused expression dwelling in his eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Ohhhh nothing." I said in a tone which Auron did not believe.

"You're a poor liar."

I crossed my arms, "If I'm a poor liar, then you're a good concealer."

Auron was speechless. She had hit him in the bull's-eye. "I am not a 'concealer'; I just keep to myself."

I leaned up and looked at him and couldn't help but sigh, "There you go again." Why does he have to change every time I break him in? Arg!

Auron didn't say anything and neither did I. I wasn't leaning on him now like before, and I felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned to him with a miserable expression to see what he wanted, but he kept his eyes on the path in front of him. The pressure on his hand pulled me closer and I understood that he did in fact like it when I was leaning on him. A sigh left my mouth and I just let the pressure lead my path. I rested against his chest and looked at the different trees and bushes that surrounded us while we rode past them.

The legendary man looked at her, "Your quiet." He returned his concentration to the path.

I opened my eyes and scratched my head, "I'm just wondering where were off too next."

"We're off to Djose Highroad."

"And after that?"

"Before the D'jose Highroad, we are taking part in 'Operation Mi'Ihen'."

"Whats's that?" I asked with concern drifting in the air.

Auron sighed and turned his head away from me. Some time flew past us and he finally returned his face to me, "They are planning on attacking and destroying Sin."

I almost jumped off of the Chocobo, "What?! Are they dumb?! That's what Summoners are for!"

Auron agreed with me, "I know. They don't understand that though. Still the hope that the everyday people of Spira defeating Sin gives them something to celebrate."

"Yeah but if anyone could just defeat Sin, then Yunie would be wasting her time!"

A long and eerie pause was between us just as the clouds grew grey from above. The cheery and merry birds that sang within the trees had now disappeared and the fiends in the area were beginning to raise their ugly heads. Looking to the sky, I felt the small speckles of rain drops that started to spit on Spira. My eyes grew into deep thought, wondering how ridiculous it was for those people to just ignore the Summoners and attempt to defeat Sin themselves.

"I want you to stay as far away as you can from this whole campaign."

I turned to him and tilted my head to the side, "How come?"

"It's going to get ugly."

I nodded and then felt that same pressure pushing against me. I leaned in and rested against his chest again as we continued to travel down the long and dark path through the forest.

* Auron, oui yna dra knaydacd = Auron, you are the greatest.

~*~ Hey I just want to thank everyone for the new reviews I have been receiving. Katie-cetra, Demon Star, Rinoa Heartilly, thank you. Your words DO make a difference. You guys make me feel special because I never thought I could actually write something that interests people. Thank you guys : ) ~*~