Author's Notes: Hi readers! How are ya?! ... ... ... Um, hopefully good. Here's more of the Most Odd of Relationships for your entertainment purposes!


Disclaimer: I do not own FFX, so do not kill me!




Chapter Three: Hate To Say I Told You So



The strong winds tugged at Auron's crimson red coat as he turned around to face the fainted Rikku. Her body was becoming drenched with the rain pouring over her still figure. Auron hasn't paid any attention to the perky Al Bhed's unusual silence for he thought the silence was just that-- silence. However, his thoughts were proved incorrect and now there was a new problem in the thunderous horizon. He now had to find some way to bring Rikku back to a state of mind; but he had no idea how. Lacking skill in the medical care department, his mind paniced while he kept his typical calm and cool serious face on.


"... Fuck," cursed Auron seeing the short and bony emerald-eyed young woman laid unneatly across the rugged and mud-covered trail that lead through the Thunder Plains before him. It was most obvious to Auron that Rikku was struck by the lightning; for there was no other way. If it were fiends Auron would have heard their beastly growls before they could even threaten either one of the two. If this isn't the most imperfect time of having someone be struck by lightning... Auron thought. I suppose I should do something, but it will waste all of the time we do not have.

Rikku's unconcious body appeared shiny when lightning would strike nearby her. The light of the lightning would illuminate the droplets of water that have been poured over Rikku; making Rikku seem to have a glowing white aura surrounding her unconcious self. It made her seem... so peaceful.. so at rest. Auron would just look at the fainted Rikku, not having even the faintest idea what to do with her!


All he could do was check to see if she was alive; still breathing. He held his hand to her slender and smoothed-skin neck, feeling around to find if she had a pulse, if she was still breathing and living-- no matter how lifeless she seemed. To much of her luck; and Auron's own luck, there was a slow beating pulse. The shock had not stole the life of the most cheery teenager-- no, young woman anybody could ever meet. "I must find the others...," Auron told himself. I must find a place to let Rikku recover... he thought.


Auron had no other way to transport the unconcious girl except to pick her up and carry her. So, Auron carefully lifted up the seemingly fragile and slender teenager and fixed her so her head rested on Auron's left shoulder; then used his right hand to support her by holding up her legs, in the crease on the opposite sides of the knees. Auron began to march along on his quest to find Yuna and her other guardians, with the unconcious Rikku in his arms.


Auron walked...


And walked...


And walked...


There has been no sign of the others. Damnit... where are the others when you need them? Auron asked himself, chiefly concerned of Rikku at this moment. Of course he would; one of his practically co-workers have been severely hurt by the strike of lightning! She's been crushed by her biggest fear. Her purpose of fearing thunder and lightning is more clear to Auron now, even though he still found the fear childish he understood more clearly.


All of the sudden, Rikku had some control on what she did; and basically regained conciousness. "Uhh...," Rikku said, in a weak sounding voice.


The impact of the lightning must have affected her greatly. Auron thought. "Are you... okay?" Auron asked, not sounding in any which way concerned... he sounded as he always did-- in a cold, cool, and serious tone of voice. Even though the two haven't been the best of friends, he was truly worried for the saftey of Rikku since he worked side-by-side with her in the same business; and learned to take all of the hyperness she'd dish out. He'd gotten used to the cheery, bright green eyed girl who had the upmost perky attitude. It annoyed him to death, but he dealed with it.


"Uhh... hmmm...," Rikku quietly whispered, with a voice barely audible. Rikku then returned to a still state unconciousness.


Through the storm he'd carry himself and Rikku. He tried his hardest to dodge every lightning bolt that would fly toward him. It seemed that the lightning was out to get him-- and seemingly out to get Rikku even more. The rain has stopped pouring as hard, and the wind has toned down only a bit. The storm worthy of being titled a hurricane has toned down to be worthy of a title of a tropical storm. Still intense, but the Thunder Plains seen worse not too long ago. He traveled to a lightning rod tower, and sat under it.


Auron sat Rikku across his lap, once he heard a familiar voice coming from afar. "Sir Auron! Is that you?" asked a man with an accent native to the isle of Besaid. It was Wakka!


"It is," Auron simply yelled back. Finally.


Yuna followed behind Wakka as they walked toward Auron and Rikku. The rest of the party followed in back of Yuna. Once Yuna neared, she noticed Rikku... laying in Aurons lap... unconcious. Yuna then took in a gasp. "Rikku!" Yuna exclaimed.


"She has been shocked by lightning," Auron explained.


"Oh no, is she okay!?" asked Yuna, deeply concerned for her cousin.


"Yeah Auron, is she okay?" Tidus asked.


"She's breathing," Auron said, relaying the news.


"Good!" Yuna said, kneeling down next to the two. "We should take her to rest back at the Agency...," Yuna suggested, feeling the deepest worry of Rikku; even though the odds were against her having signigicant injury or even dying, and the odds were for her safe recovery.


The shock seemed to have carved a scar that went from her left ear and it has been carried over to her hairline near the exact center of her forehead. She was bleeding!


"She's bleeding," cooly stated Lulu, not having any sign of caring within her voice-- even though she really did.

"Kimahri think Rikku need to clean her wound," suggested the Ronso.


Wakka hovered over the still Rikku. "Don'tcha think we should get her some medical care or somethin'?"


Yuna nodded. "We really should..."


'Let's go to the Agency... like Yuna said before," Tidus suggested.


"Agreed," said Lulu.


So, the party marched and marched along the soggy land of the Thunder Plains; making their way back to the Agency. Rikku was still being carried by Auron, as he marched along finalizing the line. This is way out of the way... Auron complained in his head. The rain and winds cooled down to about a cool breeze and drizzling rain; but the thunder and lightning still kept steady rates.


This situation fogged the minds of everyone and they forgot all about Lulu obtaining her Venus Sigil...


More lightning seemed to strike near the party than anywhere else in the Thunder Plains. They would make constant close-calls while they were traveling the nearly eight-mile distance between where they were now (After an hour of walking from the lightning rod tower, that is.) and the most relieving sight of Rin's Travel Agency.


More hours were spent walking and walking...


More hours have been spent dodging and dodging lightning bolts...


FINALLY! They all arrived at Rin's Travel Agency madly exhausted from the hours of walking. Auron had been most exhausted, for having to haul Rikku around on his back the whole time. As they bursted through the door soaking wet and dirty, they were greeted by the ever so famous Rin; the owner of the Agency chain.


"Welcome to Rin's Travel Agency; would you like to rent rooms for a night?" asked Rin, as the party neared the front desk. "Oh! What has happened to this young lady!?"


"Struck by lightning," Auron said.


"We shall have the nurse treat her!" Rin whistled; and a nurse wondered to the front desk.


"Who is the victim?" the nurse asked.


"The blonde... in Sir Auron's possesion," Rin informed.

"If you do not mind, I will take her in to the patient area...," the nurse said in a professional tone.


"Oh, yes, we insist!" Yuna said with the upmost concern for her cousin.


The nurse took Rikku from Auron and carried her into a room in the back.


"Now, to the business at hand...," Rin began.

"Seven rooms please," Yuna requested.


"The the cost of that is three thousand five hundred gil," Rin replied.


"That much?! We do not have that kind of gil!" Wakka exclaimed.


"Cool down Wakka. We could just share some rooms...," Tidus suggested.


"I am sorry, may we have only four rooms?" asked Yuna.


"You may. The cost of that is two thousand gil."


"Eh, rooms are too expensive these days...," Wakka complained, handing over 2000 gil to Yuna; having Yuna pass it to Rin.


"Thank you! Your patronage is very much appreciated," said Rin; passing Yuna the keys to four rooms.


"It better be, ya?!" exclaimed Wakka.


"Cool it, Wakka," Lulu commanded.


"Yes ma," Wakka sarcastically said.


"Hmph," Lulu said, in a contemptuous way; though only messing with Wakka.


"Eh, you'll never understand Lu, ya know?" Wakka began. "Ya just get used to her."

"I could have figured as much," Tidus said.


"I'm worried...," Yuna said, truly sounding and looking worried.


"Why?" asked Auron, concerned for his summoner.


"Rikku...," she quietly said.


"Don't get all sad now! She's gonna live. Liven up, ya?" Wakka noted, trying to cheer Yuna up.


"Yes, best not worried," Auron told Yuna.


"Kimahri think Yuna need to be happy because Rikku will be okay," Kimahri suggested.


"Yeah! Kimahri's right!" Tidus said, defending Kimahri's suggestion.


"... Oh, okay...," Yuna replied to the comments, in a quiet voice.


"Your friend will be fine using some of the Al Bhed remedies we have in stock for all sorts of injuries," assured Rin.


"Wakka, don't say a thing, you got that?" Tidus asked Wakka-- it was more of a threaten than a question. Tidus knew by now that Wakka had nothing but hate toward the Al Bhed-- and would say something negative towards their race.

"We should get settled," Auron stated.


And so everybody did. All of the party with the absence of Rikku gathered into one of the rented rooms... for no particular reason. They would shortly spread themselves throughout the rented rooms when the time came for the party to sleep.


Yuna sighed.


"What's the matter?" asked Lulu.


"Oh, nothing...," Yuna assured. "... Just bored, ya?" Yuna added, immitating Wakka.


Tidus giggled. "Looks like there's two Wakka's in the building."


"Eh, I'm the only Wakka and the best Wakka; ya got that?" asked Wakka.


"Yeah, sure...," Tidus replied.


"You! You're due, ya?" Wakka asked-- more like warned, as he grabbed Tidus in a strong headlock and gave him a powerful noogie.


"Hey hey hey! STOP!" pleaded Tidus.


Everyone emerged in laughter-- except for the Ronso. Those more serious, Auron and Lulu to be precise, they just let out a little "Hmph," which is their version of a giggle. It was funny, of course. This is the only time Mr. I'm A Guardian Now So Watch Out when he would break down a plead for dear mercy.


"And you seemed hard-headed, ya?" Wakka asked, releasing Tidus from the headlock.


"Shutup!" demanded Tidus playfully.


... This is just a time for everyone to gather and have fun. They had to force the fun upon themselves since the cheery fun one of the group is currently under care.

Then... there was a knock on their door. The Ronso walked over to the door and answered it. A lady dressed in green was at the door. One familiar to the party-- Shelinda.


"What must Miss Shelinda need?" Kimahri asked; with all eyes turned toward the Ronso and the deeply religious Shelinda.


"Oh, I came to relay a message from Rikku to you all. She says she wants you all to not be worried and that she'll be fine. Also... Rikku requests Sir Auron's precense," Shelinda said.


"Take me to her, then," Auron chimed in. He was quite impatient with matters such as these, but he stood and faced Shelinda.


"Yes, Sir Auron, right this way," Shelinda said, leaving the room with Auron following. Kimahri shut the door behind Auron.


"Kimahri wonders...," stated Kimahri.


"Eh, I wonder too... but, best not go there ya?" Wakka said.


Shelinda lead Auron throughout the long hallways of the Agency. Hallways wrapped around the small building. Masses of stairways also were planted within the Agency. The pale blue decorated walls were repetitious through the whole place; as if a new baby boy was born within the quarters. Paintings of random things hung off the walls. Paintings of flowers, fiends, animals... they added color to the boring blueness.


A pair of white double-doors appeared at a dead end. A tiny window was placed in the upper center of each of the doors. "In here," Shelinda said, opening the door and held it open for Auron to walk in.


"Thank you," Auron coldly said, minding his manners.


"You are ever so welcome, Sir Auron," Shelinda assured the unsent man. "Rikku is in the room to the very left of the counter with the sign that says 'Customer Service,'... I am not allowed passed here unless my precense has been requested, so if you cannot find your way you can ask the secretary at the desk," Shelinda said, trying to sound very formal infront of the best guardian known to Spira.

Auron followed Shelinda's directions. He walked slowly, having no idea of what Rikku wanted him of all people to see. He really didn't care about why, either. Auron just wanted to get this over with. Auron found the room left of the desk-- which there was only one room in that direction so it was easy to find Rikku's temporary residence. Auron knocked.


"Who is it?" a voice shouted from the door. The voice was weak, but still tried to sound cheery and happy.


"Me," Auron said to the door. "I believe you wanted something?" Auron asked through the door, basing what he just said on what Shelinda told him.


"Yip. Now, come in," the weak voice again tried to shout; while all the same trying to sound like the normal Rikku.


"You wanted...?" Auron asked, wanting to get the point out of Rikku as soon as possible.

The Al Bhed teenager laid on a bed full of pillows cushioning the bed. She was not changed into the usual white outfit of a usual patient in a hospital. She still stayed in her typical orage shirt with green shorts. Her eyes shined from fear, since the thunder and lightning still was clashing. "I wanted to say... I actually hate to say it, but... I guess... err... I hate to say I told you so, Auron. I told you we shouldn't go out in the storm," Rikku began.


"My apologies," Auron apologized. He hadn't apologized for dragging her out into the Thunder Plains; but apologized for her injury.


"I forgive you... I think," Rikku said.


"Is that all you needed to say?" Auron asked, being hopeful that it was. He never was the one for conversations, obviously.


"No."


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- END OF CHAPTER


Whatdya think? A little too corny? ...I'm thinking as much. The chapter (Not including the notes and this) Ran to exactly 2,500 words-- even! Atleast that's what my word counter says. Anyway, I got the idea for this chapter by listening to the radio and hearing the Hate To Say I Told You So song by the Hives... yeah. Well, anyway... REVIEW PLEASE?! You know I like reviews! Bless you all who did review-- and same to those who will review in the future! Me need feedback, ya know! I'm even more hopeless than normal without it!