A/N: Yo! How are yall! Miss me? I was on a Road-Trip for a few days... and before then I was on writers block. I wrote most of this in the car in a tiny little notebook listening to the 3 Doors Down CD for exactly 7 hours and 24 minutes and 43 seconds! Most of that time was spent thinking up the ideas for the chapter while some of it was spent writing this.





Chapter Seven: Chimera's Are Disturbing!





Auron's ears picked up the soft swishing sound. He kept the security tight as his single-eyed gaze peered into the pitch black, fiend-infested terrain. Auron could see fiery and angry red eyes in the near distance. A pair... two pair... and another pair of eyes which were more of a gentle yellow color-- but enraged all the same.


Those bright eyes, glossed in fury, were the only images Auron could make out. The dull campfire also allowed him to see faint outlines of two beastly heads and one large body and golden scales with a snake's head on it somehow connected to it.


At a near perfect time, the campfire flickered out. It was depleted by a strong gust of wind; that left the center of the camp consumed in a smoky fog. The foul stench filled the air which once was fresh and clean.


At the time the fire went out, everything turned completely black. Everything except the vision of those taunting eyes looming in the distance. Immediately, Auron stood and discarded his coat on top of Rikku. He stood and fixed himself; now just realizing how cold it really was. The cold didn't modify his duty any-- to protect Yuna. It was the same as always and he was not going to let icy cold air step in the way.


Auron's Katana found it's rightful place over his shoulder as he fixed himself into his battle-stance.

Blindly, he struck his sword forward. This attack lacked tactical strategies, but it was hard to plan on where to hit an unseen enemy. He took the hit-or-miss gamble striking where he previously saw the golden scales of the snake.


Apparently, he hit the fiend since there was a distressed hiss in reply. But, after the hiss came a taunting battle-cry followed by a powerful counter. A huge ball of flames could be pictured slicing through the air. It seemed solid but was completely flame-constructed.


... A Megiddo Flame...


The flamed ball flew and flew until it hit it's target, which was... Rikku?! The ball slapped the distant and dreaming Rikku in the face, indulging her in a wave of flames and pain. Rikku hopped up immediately, with anger shooting through her veins, "Grr! Who did that?!" Rikku exclaimed, looking around. She saw nothing but pitch blackness and... three pairs of eyes! She reached up and hesitantly touched her scar left from her encounter with lightning in the Thunder Plains. Rikku hopped up, angry.


Auron paid no attention to the awakening Rikku, and concentrated on the business at hand. He ran up and attempted to strike the fiend once more. This time, however, resulted in a miss. He misjudged the fiend's position. Nobody should blame him though since it was as a matter of a completely dark.


... All you could see were those damned taunting Chimera-Eyes...


"Rikku? Be on your guard," warned Auron.


"Ri--," Rikku was cut off by being drenched with a hose of soaking water being flung around in every which direction, showering both Auron and Rikku in the foul smelling fluid. Auron just stumbled backwards a bit while Rikku completely fell back, bottom-first into the muddy ground. "...ght. Ugh, sick!"


"As I said, be on your guard."


"Yeah, yeah," Rikku replied, standing. She pulled Auron's coat completely over herself . Even though it was almost ten times as big as her, she needed to be warm if she was going to fight the fiend who ruined her sleep! She quickly fastened her Claw, pricking herself in the finger a few times while tightening it. She dismissed the pain with an "Oww," and went on her way.


Auron went ahead with his turn. He concentrated long and hard on his Katana until it would have a little red glow. "Ha! You will hurt no one!" he exclaimed, attacking the fiend, clearly classified as a Chimera as of now (based upon it's attacks). Auron slashed right into the middle pair of eyes, since he didn't know where else he could hit.


Rikku fixed herself into a lazy battle stance. "I was saving my scariness for something real big but I'm mad at you, you... you... little monster you!" Rikku exclaimed. She was fired up and ready to go. She let her fury guide her to mixing two Bomb Cores together. "Ha! Take this!" she threw out the newly formed item, Fire Storm. "One... two... three... four... five...," Rikku counted. "SIX! Bye-bye, Chimera!" Rikku taunted, waving good-bye to the dead Chimera. Pyre Flies flew around the area, decorating the sky with blue, pink, and white swirls. "Off to the Farplain with ye!"


"Hmph," Auron grunted in contempt. She handled the matter kind of... unprofessionally.


"Ugh... foul!" Rikku complained, snifling. "That water the Chimera showered us with is stinky," she added to her complaint.


"It does smell awful but deal with it," Auron replied.


"Fine, if you're gonna deal with a stinky coat, that's all right with me." Rikku said, walking around in a circle. "Hey, there's a lake somewhere around here... I saw it on our way here. Um... which direction is that?" inquired Rikku.


"Wait. Our watch is not finished."


"Ohh...," moaned Rikku in complaint.


"If you're to be a guardian, you must fulfill your duties as one."


"I know, I know. I never knew it meant not taking a bath, though."


"No complaints. It is too cold to deal with immature complaints," Auron stated.


"Ah-hah! So you agree with me now?"


"Hmph," he grunted again.


"What is up with the 'hmph'? You sound like an exhaling Xiphos or something. Having a conversation with ya is like talking to a rock ya know!" claimed Rikku.


"Please Rikku, do your job."


"Eh, fine."


"Hmph..."


There he goes again... Rikku thought. He must have heart problems or he get's mad easy.


Rikku cuddled the hanging fabrics of Aurons coat to her. It acts as a blanket and coat to her due to it's oversize on her. Rikku smiled to herself. Guess he's got a soft spot inside of him... Rikku thought, sitting down, scooting her way back to the tree she was sitting under. When she backed, however, she bumped into something.


"Rikku, that's me you're practically on top of," Auron said.



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


Well, hadda find something about Auron to annoy Rikku with so the 'Hmph,' had to do. I am so sorry that this chapter was shorter than the usual. But, he he he... there's gonna be stuffs for the action/romance/drama lovers. I guess a little bit of everythin' for everyone.