AUTHORS NOTE: Chapter 16! Huzzah!
This chappy, as you may notice, is shorter then most of the previous - reason being that it consists mainly of dialogue (hence the title). I decided that afew things had to be put out in the open to make way for events to come in later chapters, so don't think for a second that any of the content is irrelivent! ^.^
Oh and, there's a "cliffhanger". Surprised? Sorry, I just couldn't help myself - aren't I horrible?! XD Also I just had to slot in some Jecht, to complicate everything a little more, of course! My hope is that although thsi is focused quite strongly on AuronxRikku, that you'll all be able to value Jecht just as much! I think both guys are great! ^.^
BIG warm *hugs* go to:
Era Yachi - This soon enough for you? ^.^ And yeh, it would be weird to have Rikku denying her feelings for Auron in a ficcy! Although, can you really imagine Auron bringing his feelings out into the open if he had no prompting? It seems to me that if Auron ever did feel that way he'd most probably keep it to himself and somehow try to push it to the back of his mind. The reason why Rikku isn't having as hard a time with young Auron as she would with future Auron is that young Auron hasn't fully developed his resistance to emotions. Alot of future Auron's hardness was caused due to the loss of Braska, Jecht and his own life - that's what i believe anyways!
MeowMix - I'm glad you like the Aurikku coupling! It reminds me alot of the Yuffentine (yuffie x vincent - ff7) and Zelia (zelgadis x amelia - Slayers) pairings that I love so much. All three feature a somehat cold, mysterious and unemotional male; and a lighthearted, bouncy & cute girl. It works well together!
Blurry - Aww, dun be sad! I'll update as often as I can now! ^.^
Rinny Leonhart / Rikku - huzzah!! Finally someone commented on Auron shedding his clothes! I was WONDERING if anyone would drool! *glomps* and hey, dun be jealous - if I could give you Auron I would! *grins*
cool-kitsune - Of course I'll continue! Especially cos you love it! ^.^
kingster0517 - lol, you said it - it IS a slow relationship ne? but hey, I think that's only fitting for Auron! I can't imagine he'd be all over Rikku at first sight!
Desdemona - I'm happy you like the story! *hugs*
ANYWAYS - onto the ficcy! Enjoy! And don't forget to groan at the end! lol! ^.^
*******************************************************************************
The Power of Change
A Rikku and Auron romance
*******************************************************************************
Chapter Sixteen: 'Undulating Converse'
*******************************************************************************
This small fragment in my hand shows me a strange dream
And when I grasp it tightly,
A nostalgic landscape melts into my memory
If you look up to the night sky,
The flurry of the stars softly rains down upon you
Putting your hopes into a single ray of light,
At that moment you lift your hands to the heavens
A red sparkle...
My overflowing emotions illuminate the stairway that leads to the end of dreams
White stairs to the sky
The distant forbidden garden...
Guiding you through the midst of a widening labyrinth,
Garnet in the Eden
Walking through the time that I can never again return to,
to the place where you will return...
~"Garnet -into the forbidden garden-" by Malice Mizer (translation)~
*******************************************************************************
Auron awoke the next morning to find Rikku already stoking the small campfire in preparation for the mornings breakfast. For a moment he just remained where he was, regarding her lithe form with gentle affection. She must have felt his eyes probing her though, because she turned around and looked straight at him.
"Well, are you just going to sit there staring, or do you want some breakfast?"
The hint of a smile played along Auron's lips, before he crawled out of the tent and leisurely stretched. Frankly he was a little surprised that Lord Braska wasn't already by the fire - Jecht he knew was usually a late riser without prompting - although he shrugged off the fact without complaint. Right now he was just happy to have some more time alone with Rikku.
"Braska got up a little while ago," she began, as if having read his thoughts. "He went to take a dip in the spring we were at last night."
Auron raised an eyebrow at this. "Lord Braska went swimming? Strange...." Rikku laughed.
"I'm sure he occasionally did things other than study the teachings as a budding summoner - don't look so surprised!"
Pulling on his red coat, Auron merely shrugged the thought off - allowing his eyes to wander the area where they sat in search of something to eat.
"I'll make breakfast once Jecht's up." Rikku stated, noticing this with a smile. "How about some tea while you're waiting?"
"Tea?" Auron raised that eyebrow again, another hint of an amused smile playing at his features. "How do you figure I like tea?"
Rikku blushed and lightly punched his arm, before rising to sit a little closer to her dark guardian.
"Don't tell me you drink sake this early in the morning?" a wrinkling of her nose displayed her distaste.
"Sake is... nice."
"Erghh! Nice? It's bitter and horrible!"
Auron gave her a disapproving look, to which she retaliated by poking out her tongue.
For a moment the two simply sat where they were, enjoying the cool stillness and serenity that hung over Macalania Woods. By night this made the forest seem mystical and strange, by day it gave it such a gently awe-striking quality that one could draw in a breath and barely realize it.
After a few minutes had passed, Rikku quietly moved in and placed a soft kiss on Auron's cheek - taking him by surprise.
"Wanna kiss me?" she grinned, her eyes sparkling as single shafts of light met them.
"It's too early in the morning for kissing." He simply replied, trying to mask the smile that nearly broke out.
Rikku just seemed to have that effect on the (usually) stoic guardian as of late - he found that smiling just seemed to happen when he was around her.
"You're no fun!" she pouted, shooting Auron a look of mock-annoyance.
"I guess not."
"You know what?" Rikku waited until he turned to face her, before replying. "You might not get to kiss me for a long time after this if you don't now! Who knows what could happen in the future, I might fall off a cliff or something!"
Auron gave her a stern look. "Don't joke about such things."
Reaching out, he gently took hold of her chin in thumb and forefinger - moving his mouth down to softly press against Rikku's.
The young Al Bhed emitted a quiet moan at this, gently forcing his lips apart with her insistent caress. Her arms wrapped around Auron's neck and drew him closer, allowing her to fully revel in the warmth of Auron's mouth when his tongue met her own. Their sudden passionate hunger continued for a while longer, barely permitting either of the guardians a breath of air in that space of time.
But it was Auron who eventually broke it off, untangling Rikku's arms from around him and straightening his coat as Jecht finally emerged for his cocoon of sleep.
Slightly disorientated after the intensity of the kiss, the pretty Al Bhed took a moment to realize the Blitzer's presence - but when she did her formerly abandoned seat was once again filled.
"Morning Sleepy Head!" Rikku sung out cheerfully, allowing herself one last wink at Auron before entirely shifting her attention. "How did you sleep?"
Jecht mumbled something incoherent and indicated towards a bruised spot on his side, absently scratching his disheveled mop of hair with a free hand. Rikku grinned and shook her head.
"Braska's un-summonly dance, huh?" she guessed, to which Jecht laughed.
"That's it."
The Blitzer ambled over to his fellow guardians and plunked down in a vacant spot, yawning loudly as his eyes trailed over the camp site in the same fashion as Auron had done. "What's for breakfast?"
"What would you like?"
"Everything! I'm starved! Look at me - man, I'm all skin and bones!" Jecht grinned lazily and winked at Rikku, earning a strong glare from Auron that he missed entirely.
"Okay, I'll see what I can prepare."
As the Al Bhed sorted through the bag of food items by her side, she caught Jecht eyeing her stomach with interest - causing a blush of embarrassment to highlight her cheeks.
"Can I see it?" he enquired curiously, pointing at her body.
Auron chocked on the cup of tea he'd chosen to try after all. Rikku reddened even more.
Realizing that he'd been entirely misunderstood, Jecht laughed and tried again. "I meant your injury!"
"It's a little high up - sort of around my upper rib-cage."
"Oh, so I can see it than?" he sounded disappointed, earning an even stronger glower from Auron.
"Enough Jecht! Rikku's body is her business, not yours."
Rikku giggled and secretly shot Auron a shy glance. "It's okay, it's not as if there's anything private there."
Hoisting her top up a little, the reddened injury came into view, still looking as painful as ever.
"That must hurt!" Jecht murmured, feeling his gaze threatening to travel to the smooth plains of skin around the injury and...
"It's okay, only abit sore now."
Auron's own view was on Rikku's body as well, having caught a peek of her lacy brassier that left his mouth dry.
He felt ashamed... but unable to contain his interest. The image was burnt into the back of his retina. It was lacey and white, that was all he knew - and from the way his member was acting, it was all he wanted to know right now!
Feeling suddenly exposed, Rikku pulled her top back down and went back to preparing breakfast.
Jecht sat back on the ground and looked thoughtful, to which the Al Bhed inquired.
"Gil for your thoughts?"
"Hm? Ah nothin', just thinking about Blitzball." An expression of pure nostalgia passed over his face at those words, and he omitted a low sigh.
"I always wanted to try that...," Rikku replied.
It was true, whenever she'd watched Tidus show his stuff in the Blitz stadium in Luca she'd always been on the sidelines cheering him on, imagining it was herself that was zipping through the water - dodging the opposition's defense and zooming in for that winning goal.
"Have you been to Luca?" she inquired curiously, to which Jecht nodded.
"Yep, although we were only passing through. That's where Braska pilgrimaged to after he left Bevelle."
"He went to Luca from Bevelle? Isn't that kind of out of the way?"
"He was honorary guest of Maester Mika," Auron broke in - fixing his gaze on Rikku. "There was nothing we could do. However, while there we ran into some trouble with the Al Bhed." He practically spat out the last words, his voice ingrained with such malice that it made Rikku feel sick.
"What exactly do you have against the Al Bhed?!" she shot, trying to disguise the hurt she was feeling. "You aren't a monk anymore, so why are you so avid after believing whom Yevon deems to be good or evil?! Don't you have your own opinion?"
Auron failed to hide the annoyance he felt. "I do, but I also have my faith - my Yevonite faith."
"Well one of these days you might just have to choose between your faith and your newly found belief." She murmured quietly as she stood up, speaking in a tone that only Auron managed to pick up, and in a way that only he understood.
He visibly paled at those words. "Rikku..."
But she'd already walked away.
*******************************************************************************
©Erica Runge, 25th of July, 2003. All characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFX. ©Malice Mizer.
This chappy, as you may notice, is shorter then most of the previous - reason being that it consists mainly of dialogue (hence the title). I decided that afew things had to be put out in the open to make way for events to come in later chapters, so don't think for a second that any of the content is irrelivent! ^.^
Oh and, there's a "cliffhanger". Surprised? Sorry, I just couldn't help myself - aren't I horrible?! XD Also I just had to slot in some Jecht, to complicate everything a little more, of course! My hope is that although thsi is focused quite strongly on AuronxRikku, that you'll all be able to value Jecht just as much! I think both guys are great! ^.^
BIG warm *hugs* go to:
Era Yachi - This soon enough for you? ^.^ And yeh, it would be weird to have Rikku denying her feelings for Auron in a ficcy! Although, can you really imagine Auron bringing his feelings out into the open if he had no prompting? It seems to me that if Auron ever did feel that way he'd most probably keep it to himself and somehow try to push it to the back of his mind. The reason why Rikku isn't having as hard a time with young Auron as she would with future Auron is that young Auron hasn't fully developed his resistance to emotions. Alot of future Auron's hardness was caused due to the loss of Braska, Jecht and his own life - that's what i believe anyways!
MeowMix - I'm glad you like the Aurikku coupling! It reminds me alot of the Yuffentine (yuffie x vincent - ff7) and Zelia (zelgadis x amelia - Slayers) pairings that I love so much. All three feature a somehat cold, mysterious and unemotional male; and a lighthearted, bouncy & cute girl. It works well together!
Blurry - Aww, dun be sad! I'll update as often as I can now! ^.^
Rinny Leonhart / Rikku - huzzah!! Finally someone commented on Auron shedding his clothes! I was WONDERING if anyone would drool! *glomps* and hey, dun be jealous - if I could give you Auron I would! *grins*
cool-kitsune - Of course I'll continue! Especially cos you love it! ^.^
kingster0517 - lol, you said it - it IS a slow relationship ne? but hey, I think that's only fitting for Auron! I can't imagine he'd be all over Rikku at first sight!
Desdemona - I'm happy you like the story! *hugs*
ANYWAYS - onto the ficcy! Enjoy! And don't forget to groan at the end! lol! ^.^
*******************************************************************************
The Power of Change
A Rikku and Auron romance
*******************************************************************************
Chapter Sixteen: 'Undulating Converse'
*******************************************************************************
This small fragment in my hand shows me a strange dream
And when I grasp it tightly,
A nostalgic landscape melts into my memory
If you look up to the night sky,
The flurry of the stars softly rains down upon you
Putting your hopes into a single ray of light,
At that moment you lift your hands to the heavens
A red sparkle...
My overflowing emotions illuminate the stairway that leads to the end of dreams
White stairs to the sky
The distant forbidden garden...
Guiding you through the midst of a widening labyrinth,
Garnet in the Eden
Walking through the time that I can never again return to,
to the place where you will return...
~"Garnet -into the forbidden garden-" by Malice Mizer (translation)~
*******************************************************************************
Auron awoke the next morning to find Rikku already stoking the small campfire in preparation for the mornings breakfast. For a moment he just remained where he was, regarding her lithe form with gentle affection. She must have felt his eyes probing her though, because she turned around and looked straight at him.
"Well, are you just going to sit there staring, or do you want some breakfast?"
The hint of a smile played along Auron's lips, before he crawled out of the tent and leisurely stretched. Frankly he was a little surprised that Lord Braska wasn't already by the fire - Jecht he knew was usually a late riser without prompting - although he shrugged off the fact without complaint. Right now he was just happy to have some more time alone with Rikku.
"Braska got up a little while ago," she began, as if having read his thoughts. "He went to take a dip in the spring we were at last night."
Auron raised an eyebrow at this. "Lord Braska went swimming? Strange...." Rikku laughed.
"I'm sure he occasionally did things other than study the teachings as a budding summoner - don't look so surprised!"
Pulling on his red coat, Auron merely shrugged the thought off - allowing his eyes to wander the area where they sat in search of something to eat.
"I'll make breakfast once Jecht's up." Rikku stated, noticing this with a smile. "How about some tea while you're waiting?"
"Tea?" Auron raised that eyebrow again, another hint of an amused smile playing at his features. "How do you figure I like tea?"
Rikku blushed and lightly punched his arm, before rising to sit a little closer to her dark guardian.
"Don't tell me you drink sake this early in the morning?" a wrinkling of her nose displayed her distaste.
"Sake is... nice."
"Erghh! Nice? It's bitter and horrible!"
Auron gave her a disapproving look, to which she retaliated by poking out her tongue.
For a moment the two simply sat where they were, enjoying the cool stillness and serenity that hung over Macalania Woods. By night this made the forest seem mystical and strange, by day it gave it such a gently awe-striking quality that one could draw in a breath and barely realize it.
After a few minutes had passed, Rikku quietly moved in and placed a soft kiss on Auron's cheek - taking him by surprise.
"Wanna kiss me?" she grinned, her eyes sparkling as single shafts of light met them.
"It's too early in the morning for kissing." He simply replied, trying to mask the smile that nearly broke out.
Rikku just seemed to have that effect on the (usually) stoic guardian as of late - he found that smiling just seemed to happen when he was around her.
"You're no fun!" she pouted, shooting Auron a look of mock-annoyance.
"I guess not."
"You know what?" Rikku waited until he turned to face her, before replying. "You might not get to kiss me for a long time after this if you don't now! Who knows what could happen in the future, I might fall off a cliff or something!"
Auron gave her a stern look. "Don't joke about such things."
Reaching out, he gently took hold of her chin in thumb and forefinger - moving his mouth down to softly press against Rikku's.
The young Al Bhed emitted a quiet moan at this, gently forcing his lips apart with her insistent caress. Her arms wrapped around Auron's neck and drew him closer, allowing her to fully revel in the warmth of Auron's mouth when his tongue met her own. Their sudden passionate hunger continued for a while longer, barely permitting either of the guardians a breath of air in that space of time.
But it was Auron who eventually broke it off, untangling Rikku's arms from around him and straightening his coat as Jecht finally emerged for his cocoon of sleep.
Slightly disorientated after the intensity of the kiss, the pretty Al Bhed took a moment to realize the Blitzer's presence - but when she did her formerly abandoned seat was once again filled.
"Morning Sleepy Head!" Rikku sung out cheerfully, allowing herself one last wink at Auron before entirely shifting her attention. "How did you sleep?"
Jecht mumbled something incoherent and indicated towards a bruised spot on his side, absently scratching his disheveled mop of hair with a free hand. Rikku grinned and shook her head.
"Braska's un-summonly dance, huh?" she guessed, to which Jecht laughed.
"That's it."
The Blitzer ambled over to his fellow guardians and plunked down in a vacant spot, yawning loudly as his eyes trailed over the camp site in the same fashion as Auron had done. "What's for breakfast?"
"What would you like?"
"Everything! I'm starved! Look at me - man, I'm all skin and bones!" Jecht grinned lazily and winked at Rikku, earning a strong glare from Auron that he missed entirely.
"Okay, I'll see what I can prepare."
As the Al Bhed sorted through the bag of food items by her side, she caught Jecht eyeing her stomach with interest - causing a blush of embarrassment to highlight her cheeks.
"Can I see it?" he enquired curiously, pointing at her body.
Auron chocked on the cup of tea he'd chosen to try after all. Rikku reddened even more.
Realizing that he'd been entirely misunderstood, Jecht laughed and tried again. "I meant your injury!"
"It's a little high up - sort of around my upper rib-cage."
"Oh, so I can see it than?" he sounded disappointed, earning an even stronger glower from Auron.
"Enough Jecht! Rikku's body is her business, not yours."
Rikku giggled and secretly shot Auron a shy glance. "It's okay, it's not as if there's anything private there."
Hoisting her top up a little, the reddened injury came into view, still looking as painful as ever.
"That must hurt!" Jecht murmured, feeling his gaze threatening to travel to the smooth plains of skin around the injury and...
"It's okay, only abit sore now."
Auron's own view was on Rikku's body as well, having caught a peek of her lacy brassier that left his mouth dry.
He felt ashamed... but unable to contain his interest. The image was burnt into the back of his retina. It was lacey and white, that was all he knew - and from the way his member was acting, it was all he wanted to know right now!
Feeling suddenly exposed, Rikku pulled her top back down and went back to preparing breakfast.
Jecht sat back on the ground and looked thoughtful, to which the Al Bhed inquired.
"Gil for your thoughts?"
"Hm? Ah nothin', just thinking about Blitzball." An expression of pure nostalgia passed over his face at those words, and he omitted a low sigh.
"I always wanted to try that...," Rikku replied.
It was true, whenever she'd watched Tidus show his stuff in the Blitz stadium in Luca she'd always been on the sidelines cheering him on, imagining it was herself that was zipping through the water - dodging the opposition's defense and zooming in for that winning goal.
"Have you been to Luca?" she inquired curiously, to which Jecht nodded.
"Yep, although we were only passing through. That's where Braska pilgrimaged to after he left Bevelle."
"He went to Luca from Bevelle? Isn't that kind of out of the way?"
"He was honorary guest of Maester Mika," Auron broke in - fixing his gaze on Rikku. "There was nothing we could do. However, while there we ran into some trouble with the Al Bhed." He practically spat out the last words, his voice ingrained with such malice that it made Rikku feel sick.
"What exactly do you have against the Al Bhed?!" she shot, trying to disguise the hurt she was feeling. "You aren't a monk anymore, so why are you so avid after believing whom Yevon deems to be good or evil?! Don't you have your own opinion?"
Auron failed to hide the annoyance he felt. "I do, but I also have my faith - my Yevonite faith."
"Well one of these days you might just have to choose between your faith and your newly found belief." She murmured quietly as she stood up, speaking in a tone that only Auron managed to pick up, and in a way that only he understood.
He visibly paled at those words. "Rikku..."
But she'd already walked away.
*******************************************************************************
©Erica Runge, 25th of July, 2003. All characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFX. ©Malice Mizer.