Chapter 2
Managing to have developed an effective method of quieting her screeches that proceded every strike of lighting and roar of thunder, Rikku didn't end up accumulating much sleep at all. She stared at the designs on the sheets of her bed, with tired, glossy eyes. Her shaky fingers traced over the lightning bolts and grey clouds that made up the artistic design. Figures of posing cactaurs were sewn on the fluffy pillows on the bed, but Rikku couldn't bring herself to rest her head against them.
She let out a shaky sigh as she rolled over onto her back. She could see the sleeping forms of both Yuna and Lulu on either side of her. It was a wonder that they managed to get to sleep with her constant whimpering.
But then it hit her.
Rikku hadn't heard anymore rolls of thunder, and she didn't catch and quick glimpses of lightning.
Did the storm stop? Was that even possible?
Biting her lip and taking in a quick gasp of breath, Rikku tossed the covers off, swung her legs over the bed's edge, and rose to her feet. She cautiously skittered out to the corridor, opening and closing the door of her room as quietly as possible. She took a few more steps down the hallway before--
CRACK!
A huge roar of thunder sounded through the building, causing Rikku to drop to her knees while letting out a piercing scream.
There was an instant commotion, and the others came poling out of their rooms frantically. Tidus and Wakka were the first two to appear in the hallway.
Tidus gasped out, "Rikku! Are you okay?"
Wakka nodded and looked at the girl concernedly. Lulu and Yuna entered the corridor next. Yuna leaned over by Rikku with a rather scared expression on her face. Auron and Kimahri stepped out into the hall next. They looked onto the scene carefully, but neither of them uttered a word.
"Rikku," Lulu began quietly, "what happened?"
"The- the--"
"Let me guess," Auron grumbled, "thunder?"
Rikku simply nodded and buried her head in her hands with embarrassment. "It was pretty loud this time, ya?" Wakka offered.
The majority of the others nodded in agreement.
"Rikku, you gonna be alright?" Tidus asked with genuine concern.
She looked back at Tidus and nodded.
"Yeah," she nodded cautiously, "yeah, I will. Sorry that I woke you all up."
Yuna patted Rikku on the back and headed back to the room along with Lulu. The others slowly returned to their rooms, as well. All except one.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolls again, and Rikku let out a strangled whimper. She quickly heaved herself back up to her feet, and whirled around. She gasped when she found herself standing face-to-face with Auron.
"Auron," she sighed, "I'm sorry. But.. but tell me! Tell me that even you have a fear! Even you!"
"Hm," he muttered.
As Auron turned away and headed back to his room, Rikku hung her head in defeat and tromped back to her bed.
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[ A/N: So, did you all like it so far? There's much more to come, as well. So, review if you liked it! Hell, review if you didn't like it, and tell me what I can do to fix it. Thanks a bunch! ^_^ ]
Managing to have developed an effective method of quieting her screeches that proceded every strike of lighting and roar of thunder, Rikku didn't end up accumulating much sleep at all. She stared at the designs on the sheets of her bed, with tired, glossy eyes. Her shaky fingers traced over the lightning bolts and grey clouds that made up the artistic design. Figures of posing cactaurs were sewn on the fluffy pillows on the bed, but Rikku couldn't bring herself to rest her head against them.
She let out a shaky sigh as she rolled over onto her back. She could see the sleeping forms of both Yuna and Lulu on either side of her. It was a wonder that they managed to get to sleep with her constant whimpering.
But then it hit her.
Rikku hadn't heard anymore rolls of thunder, and she didn't catch and quick glimpses of lightning.
Did the storm stop? Was that even possible?
Biting her lip and taking in a quick gasp of breath, Rikku tossed the covers off, swung her legs over the bed's edge, and rose to her feet. She cautiously skittered out to the corridor, opening and closing the door of her room as quietly as possible. She took a few more steps down the hallway before--
CRACK!
A huge roar of thunder sounded through the building, causing Rikku to drop to her knees while letting out a piercing scream.
There was an instant commotion, and the others came poling out of their rooms frantically. Tidus and Wakka were the first two to appear in the hallway.
Tidus gasped out, "Rikku! Are you okay?"
Wakka nodded and looked at the girl concernedly. Lulu and Yuna entered the corridor next. Yuna leaned over by Rikku with a rather scared expression on her face. Auron and Kimahri stepped out into the hall next. They looked onto the scene carefully, but neither of them uttered a word.
"Rikku," Lulu began quietly, "what happened?"
"The- the--"
"Let me guess," Auron grumbled, "thunder?"
Rikku simply nodded and buried her head in her hands with embarrassment. "It was pretty loud this time, ya?" Wakka offered.
The majority of the others nodded in agreement.
"Rikku, you gonna be alright?" Tidus asked with genuine concern.
She looked back at Tidus and nodded.
"Yeah," she nodded cautiously, "yeah, I will. Sorry that I woke you all up."
Yuna patted Rikku on the back and headed back to the room along with Lulu. The others slowly returned to their rooms, as well. All except one.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolls again, and Rikku let out a strangled whimper. She quickly heaved herself back up to her feet, and whirled around. She gasped when she found herself standing face-to-face with Auron.
"Auron," she sighed, "I'm sorry. But.. but tell me! Tell me that even you have a fear! Even you!"
"Hm," he muttered.
As Auron turned away and headed back to his room, Rikku hung her head in defeat and tromped back to her bed.
----------------------
[ A/N: So, did you all like it so far? There's much more to come, as well. So, review if you liked it! Hell, review if you didn't like it, and tell me what I can do to fix it. Thanks a bunch! ^_^ ]