Note: Hi all! Sorry for making you wait for the update on this story. Where have all my AuroLulu fans gone? :( Come on now! ^_^ Anyways, we last left off with Sin passing by the village where Lulu and Auron were. We also last left off with the two trapped in a small little storage room so they can keep out of Sin's way. And hey! Cid's out there in the storm now, but what happened to him when Sin came by? :S Are Yuna and Tidus safe as well? Wakka and Rikku are also heading their way towards the village, so hey they could see Auron and Lulu! However, will they make it on time before Lulu and Auron lose air? And what aboout Kai? Where is he? :S
Chapter 10 - I Wish I Never Knew
It seemed like forever the village has been ransacked by the deadly force of their number one enemy of the world. It travelled in a speeding light and was ten times larger than a normal whale. It was the living nightmare. The hellmouth of the world. It was Sin. Auron opened his eyes and breathe in air again. For a moment, he had collapsed, but as he looked around, he could hear mumbling voices behind him and that's when he knew, he was alive again. It took him a couple more seconds to realize that he was back outside, on a very uncomfortable bed beneath him.
"Are ye all right, Auron?" said a familiar voice.
The swordsman looked up to see the familiar face of Clyre Mirkie, the man who was kind enough to give them room in their Inn, while giving them work in return, in exchange for paying for the rooms. For the last two days, Auron and Lulu felt welcomed in their home. His mind suddenly wandered towards Lulu. The last time he was with her was being trapped inside the small storage, trying to breathe until they were found. Auron sat up, his head swirling in colors. He placed a hand on his temple, still feeling nausea running through his body and looked around slowly. People, he figured, that lived in this village were all staring at him, some with worried faces, some with curious looks, wondering who this man was.
"Where is Lulu?" he finally asked, after having the difficulty to speak from his dry mouth.
"She will be fine. She is resting at the moment," came a woman's voice. Auron looked up. A woman, around Lulu's age stepped in through a room to his right. She closed the room she entered from behind her and approached the man cautiously. He could tell the young woman was suspicious with the man, but through her eyes, she was trying her best not to be. She glanced at Clyre Mirkie, then back at Auron. "My name is Elya Seagon," she said, lifting up her hand towards him.
Auron shook her hand. "My name is Auron. What is Lulu's condition?" He stared into her eyes, hoping against hopes that black mage did not have any internal injuries or anything deadly consume her. When red haired woman blinnked and smiled reassuringly, the swordsman was relieved. "Can I see her?" Despite her looks of reassurance, he was still concerned for her. He has almost lost her twice.
Elya shook her head. "I do not think that is possible at the moment, though I assure you Auron that Lulu will be all right. As of now, she needs time to rest."
The man wanted to protest, but Clyre's hand had stopped him from continuing. He looked up, watching as the older man shook his head. Auron looked back at the woman and noticed her back to him. She went to the other door, which seemed to be the exit and never looked back before she left. "Who was that woman, Clyre? She seems to know a lot about...things." Her attitude irritated him. She was cold and very inexpressive about anything.
Clyre laughed, removing his hand from the younger man's shoulder. "She is one of the renowned doctors here in Presia. She used to be one of Lulu's good friends."
"Used to?" Auron never thought Lulu had so many friends. He knew that during her younger days, Lulu HAD friends, but never in his life had he imagined her to have the whole village being her friends. He might not know the whole truth, but he guessed that Lulu lost her friends since she movied out of the village and into Besaid.
"Aye," Clyre replied, startling Auron from his thoughts suddenly. He had forgotten Clyre was still answering his question earlier. "She USED to be friends with Elya Seagon, the late Dr. Bryce Seagon's daughter. She USED to be friends with all the children here in Presia when she was young, but..." He paused, unsure if he should continue. It certainly wasn't his place to tell someone else about this, when it was Lulu's job to do so. "I don't think I should say anything more."
Auron nodded patiently. He wanted to know more about Lulu's past, but he figured he should ask her himself. Lulu was certainly a mysterious woman. In some ways, he didn't care about Lulu's past and wouldn't care if Lulu didn't tell him if he asked her, because it wasn't his place to know, but in other ways, he wanted to know more about the mysterious black mage. Maybe there was something in her past that could help him beat Kai in their next match, in case he comes to Presia. Auron knew it would be a matter of time before Kai realizes they were here in Presia. Sighing deep into his throat, Auron slid himself down on the floor, feeling the cold concrete against his bare feet and began walking slowly towards the door where he knew Lulu was resting in. He shivered, feeling something cold sweep around his bare neck and chest that appeared suddenly out of nowhere. He almost staggered forward; his head still throbbing in pain from his experience inside the small storage room with no room for breathing. He was just an inch towards the door, when he felt that same large hand he felt earlier on his shoulder.
"Didn'tcha hear Elya tell ye that Lulu was resting right now?"
Auron frowned. "I will not disturb her, Clyre. I just want to make sure she's really back."
"Why would ye want te do that?" Clyre stared at him curiously.
The swordsman turned around, looking over the taller man's shoulder in a trance. "Because...because I lost hope when we were inside that storage and couldn't get out. Clyre, I almost lost her twice already and I just want to make sure that she wasn't gone for good. I want proof that she's still here."
Clyre took a deep breath. He had no choice. He reluctantly released his hand on Auron's shoulder and watched the man slowly opening the door. Looking back at the taller man, Auron breathed a 'thank you' to him, before he went inside, closing the door behind him. The swordsman was relieved to find that Lulu WAS there and that she hasn't left his side at all. He wanted to see her so badly, what with all the near death experiences she had so far. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if one of the Guardians died just by protecting herself, instead of protecting the one they're supposed to watch over. He approached her silently and examined her for a while, before sitting down on the bed lightly beside her. The bright sunlight cast a shadow on her secretive face and her long, dark hair cascaded down on the small, white pillow. Her eyes were closed, which was too bad, because Auron was quite eager to see her eyes and wonder what she was thinking. It was impossible for him to guess what she was thinking without the constant changes of her dark pupils. He lifted up a hand to touch her face, but quickly withdrew it.
She stirred and for a moment, all Auron could do was stay frozen in fear of her knowing he was there. He was expecting Lulu to be asleep still so he could watch her and touch her to make sure she WAS there with him. She turned her head towards the door. Auron was ready to bolt out of there, but Lulu's gaze had stopped him from going anywhere. Lulu smiled and stretched only a little, then sat up from bed.
"Hello, Sir Auron," Lulu spoke quietly.
Auron sighed silently and relaxed back in the chair. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Not at all," Lulu replied, putting her feet down on the floor. She shivered when she felt the cold surface of the floor touching her bare skin. Suddenly, Lulu felt waves of nausea and her dark eyes were surrounded by swirls of bright colors. Lulu leaned forward, but Auron was quick enough to catch her.
"You should be resting, Lulu," Auron whispered in her ear as he leaned her back against the bed, but the Black Mage shook her head and forced herself up from Auron's attemps to let her rest and quickly stood up. As stubborn as she was, Auron admired her strenght and her willingness to fight on even the worse possible things. However, even the strongest, even those who has faced many dangers in their lives fell back. Lulu stumbled forward once again and once again Auron was there to catch her fall. "Why don't you listen to me, Lulu?" This time, Auron's voice held a concern for the Black Mage.
Lulu looked up, feeling warm in Auron's arms. Their eyes met for a moment and their faces were just inches apart, when something interrupted that moment. Both Black Mage and Swordsman broke apart and looked out the window. Two familiar voices were calling out. "Hello!? Is anyone there!? Is anyone hurt?" Lulu recognized the voice as Rikku.
"Hey! If you're injured, just moan or something, ya!?" Auron knew that voice was Wakka's.
Lulu and Auron looked at each other. "That's them right?" Lulu asked, making sure she wasn't dreaming.
Auron nodded. "I think so." With his help, Auron wrapped one arm around Lulu's waist to keep her steady and the two walked back to the main area of the bomb shelter and joined the other villagers, who obviously heard the voices and were beginning to feel terrified, especially the young children. Clyre was standing by the door, looking out the window, wondering who these strangers were. "It's all right, Clyre. They are friends of ours," Auron told him.
Clyre looked over her shoulder. He gave Auron an expression of suspicion and then it quickly softened to a reassuring look.
Knock! Knock!
All heads turned towards the door.
"Hello in there? Is someone there?" came a third voice they didn't hear before.
Auron immediately recognized it to be Cess.' Taking a deep breath, Auron led Lulu towards Clyre so he can answer the door and was greeted by a sharp sword the moment he opened the metallic entrance.
"Is this one of ye friends, Auron?" Clyre asked.
All Lulu could do was stare at the unfamiliar woman who had her sword pinned against Auron's neck. The woman quickly withdrew the sword and looked at Auron, then at the people inside the building. The Swordsman rubbed his neck where the sword ALMOST cut throught and stared at her firmly. "Is this how you treat your friends these days, Cess?"
Cess sighed, putting her sword back in its sheath. "Well, you could have at least warned me that you were no enemy the moment you opened the door."
"AURON!" Cess was later joined by Rikku, Wakka and an ever so silent Kimahri, who found their way back to where they came from. The energetic blond girl, out of excitement for finding their two friends, wrapped her arms around the taller man and smiled. Auron hugged her back awkwardly. He has never seen Rikku THIS happy before. Without a moment too soon, Rikku pulled back and looked at Auron up and down. "What happened to you?"
Auron shrugged and quietly replied, "Been through hell."
Rikku laughed at Auron's joke, though the Swordsman didn't think it was. She looked at Lulu, who was hanging on to a middle aged man. She lifted an eyebrow curiously, glancing at the man beside her, but shook it off and went upto her to hug the Black Mage. Lulu was glad to see her friends again, but Rikku, despite her act of kindness, was really crushing her rib. "Ri...kk....u....." she gasped.
The blond girl felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and found Auron shaking his head. "Why? What's wrong, Lulu?" she asked, glancing back at the older woman.
Lulu couldn't answer, because she was trying to get her breathing back and when she did, she tried looking up with warm eyes, but ended up darkly than usual. "Don't hug me too tight," she simply answered. "You were cutting circulation to my lungs."
"Oh." She blushed. "Sorry," Rikku said, grinning. "I guess I got too excited." She stepped aside to let Wakka in. The large man shook Auron's hand instead of giving him a bear hug and approached Lulu cautiously. For a long time they have known each other, Wakka knew when or when not to close the space in her personal privacy. With that warning, however, Wakka couldn't help but wrap his large arms around her, glad that she, of all people was okay. Lulu awkwardly hugged her back, unsure how to react to this new behaviour. She was surprised that for a big man like him, he hugged gentler than a bear, unlike the smaller girl who could squeeze an eye out.
"Lu, it's good to see you again! Two days missing!?" Wakka looked at Auron and grinned. "I mean, what were you thinking Auron?"
Auron could only shrug as he smiled beneath his collar. "Sorry I was late."
Kimahri just stayed outside and nodded at the two, glad that they were safe.
"Nice to see you too, Kimahri," Auron spoke.
"What's going on here?" a new voice, one that Auron has never heard before around the village, echoed. All heads turned to the direction of a short man, roughly around his forties with balding, brown hair. None of the newcomers said anything, not even the two people who have stayed in the village for two days. They were as curious as the other three who have just arrived. The man held an angered expression that Auron and Lulu swore they've seen before.
For a moment, all was silent, when Clyre finally spoke. "Mayor Moris! We apologize for this noise. Two of my friends have found their companions here."
Lulu held her breath. Mayor Moris, she thought.
The short bald man glanced at the six men and women he has never seen before all his life, except maybe for one that he vaguely recognized. "Well, are they able bodies?" he asked only Clyre in particular.
"Pardon me?" Rikku asked curiously. Able bodies?
"What I mean, young girl, is that if you are all to stay in this village, I expect you all to share your strenghts in rebuilding this small village," Moris replied.
"Now, now, darling, I believe our visitors would want to eat first before they start working," a woman's voice spoke up. All heads had their attention this time towards a woman, who was Lulu's age and by the looks of the large rock on her finger, this was the Mayor's wife. She had, short reddish-brown hair and the brightest green eyes Lulu has ever seen on a woman so fit and young. She smiled at all six newcomers, linking her arms with her husband and nodded at them. "My name is Nune Shamer, Mayor Moris' wife." One hand seem to automatically move to her stomach, which everyone realized was obviously too large for the clothes she was wearing. Lulu rarely saw pregnant women these days. "This baby, who will soon be born, is Sonya... a girl." She gave another contagious smile. "Now!" She turned and looked behind her towards the villagers who were eating. Some, Auron noticed, were already gone ready to help fix the village. "Why don't you all eat first and worry about the village later? Some of the men have already started working on it, but first thing first....eat!"
"Yes! I'm hungry!" Rikku gasped, running to a nearby table, which was the only one still full of delicious food.
Wakka followed her, joining the blond girl at the same table and he sat across from her. The girl was already chewing on a large chunk of chicken that she put on her own plate. The Blitzball player shook his head in disbelief. "You're always hungry!"
Rikku looked at him and shrugged. "So?" she replied with a full mouth.
Wakka grimaced at the sight and took a piece of the half eaten full grown chicken in front of him, then bit on a large chunk, then began chewing on it. Kimahri and Cess joined them wordlessly and ate their own share of food they served themselves. Clyre led Lulu to the same table, helping her to sit down on a seat beside Cess, who was still a stranger to the Black Mage. Auron made sure Lulu was safely back inside and when he was certain, he turned and left to help the villagers with the damage done by Sin.
Everyone else was too busy eating, but Lulu, eating only a few portions of the large amount of food on the table, was the first one to notice Auron gone. She looked around for him and found the Swordsman outside, helping put up a broken window with hammer and nails. The Black Mage, feeling a bit better from the nausea, went out to join him. She found Auron with his back to her, on top of a ladder, too busy hammering a single nail at the top side of a window sill to notice Lulu coming out. She stood there, watching him for a while, until he stopped and, without looking back, held out his hand to her.
"Could you hand me another nail please?" he said, holding the window back to keep it steady and straight.
Lulu did as she was told, looked around and found the box of large nails behind her on a chair. She picked one up and handed it to Auron. For a moment their hands touched, she felt electricity run through her.
As if feeling it too, Auron finally turned around, wondering what made him quiver so much and noticed Lulu standing there. "Lulu?" Surprised, Auron almost fell back, but Lulu held unto his legs to keep him steady. Thankful for Lulu being there, he sighed in relief, sweat dropping at the sides of his temple, embarrassingly. "Thanks," he mumbled.
The Black Mage nodded. "No problem." She quickly withdrew her hand from him, unaware that she has been staring at him for the longest time.
Auron turned away, turning back to his work, trying not to get distracted and pound the hammer into his fingers instead of the nails. Lulu turned around, hoping to find other ways to distract herself instead of the Swordsman hammering and indeed found something. She saw a woman, with curly brown hair, lifting up a tray with glass filled lemonade, while at the same time, juggling with a basket full of muffins in her right arm. It looks as though she was having trouble, so Lulu approached her, lending out a hand to catch a muffin that fell out of the wicker basket.
"Oh, thank you dear!" the woman said, greatfully smiling up at the dark haired beauty.
Lulu nodded, putting the muffin back inside the basket. "May I help you with that?" she asked, tilting her head towards the tray that the older woman was having trouble balancing in her arms. The woman, glad with the younger woman's help, accepted her offer and handed the tray slowly to her. Lulu accepted it and, as if natural with it, held the tray with so much ease and confidence. "Where do I take it?"
The woman smiled, amazed by her talent. "You just take it to all the men who are working hard and seem to need a few drinks or two. My name is Vlia, by the way."
"Oh," was all Lulu could say. "Hello, Vlia. My name is Lulu." The Black Mage has never seen this woman before. She looked around, hoping to offer someone a drink so she had something to do, instead of standing there acting like an idiot, but with no such luck. Almost everyone seem to have gotten drinks with them and were getting refilled everytime it was gone by other women who were doing the same job as Vlia. Lulu noticed the differences between the Presia of today from the Presia of her past. There were many people she didn't recognize during her childhood, including Vlia. The last time she remembered, there were no children running around her childhood home. Because of that, Presia was worldly known as a village of 'death,' metaphorically speaking, because somehow, couples who wanted children, weren't able to have any. Lulu and Kai were the first children in the village and then followed by Elya, her other friend (whom she became enemies with). After that, when she left, from what Clyre had told her about, many children were instantly born.
"Could I have a lemonade?" came a deep voice from behind her.
Startled, Lulu immediately turned, almost toppling all of the lemonade glass on the ground, but the Black Mage, quick to her senses, was able to balance it out on the tray. She found herself face to face with Auron, who seemed amused with her act of 'balancing the lemonade glass.' Noticing him trying not to smirk, Lulu frowned. "Is there something you find funny about what I just did, Sir Auron?"
Auron shook his head, erasing the amused look from his face and glanced at the drinks. "No, but I was wondering if I could have a lemonade."
Lulu nodded, lifting up a hand to give a glass to Auron, who took it gently and drank it with one gulp. Amazed at his thirst, Lulu watched as the tall man downed it quickly and put the empty glass back on the tray. "Sir Auron, empty glasses do not belong on the tray, thank you," she spoke, coldly.
As if laughing was one of his habits these days, Auron chuckled and picked the empty glass back up in his hands and nodded. "Yes, of course." He turned around and went back to his work place near the window sill. Lulu, confused by what just happened, watched him wait for another woman refill his glass. This time, Auron did not drink it quickly. He went back to work again, thanked the woman who refilled his glass with orange juice and began hammering more nails against the wooden window.
Lulu sighed, turned and searched for more customers for her lemonade and when no one else would want anymore, she put the tray down on a table she didn't know was there and walked back inside the sheltered building. It was far too hot for her to stay long. She felt beads of sweat trickle down from her forehead and around the sides of her face. The Black Mage wiped them away with a swipe of her arms and noticed the same woman with Rikku, Wakka and Kimahri earlier, sitting on the same chair she was sitting earlier for lunch. She joined her, sitting across from the brown haired woman. "I don't believe we've been introduced..." Lulu spoke out.
Cess looked up and nodded, showing her a single hand to shake. "My name is Cess Marjorie. We were introduced...only a little. I was the one who was beaten badly back when I was fighting with...Kai..." She paused, looking up as the Black Mage's face wrinkled in dissatisfaction. "I see you hate it too to hear HIS name?"
The Black Mage said nothing and slowly nodded in agreement. "I guess we're both in the same page. What happened after that?"
"I was taken back into your ship, but I left for I did not need their help. I almost had Kai, but he.... he disappeared."
Lulu's eyes widened. "So you're telling me he's not dead?"
Cess frowned, turning away. "I'm afraid so."
"I see..."
"Hey, hey don't fret now, Lu, ya?" spoke a voice. Both women looked up to find Wakka appearing from behind the same door Lulu went through and joined the two women in the table. He stared worriedly at Lulu's frightened face. "Don't worry. Since we're all here, we're going to gang up on him and beat him to the pulp!" He slammed a fist down on the ground, making Cess flinch.
Lulu's face showed little emotion to what seemed like a joke to Waka and stood up. "Who says anything about you all being involved? I've said this many times that this is my fight and said many times that this has nothing to do with any of you! If Kai is looking for me and me alone, then I'll be the one to take him on. If any of you get hurt then-"
"Then it's our own fault for not taking care of you enough," Auron's voice echoed, interrupting her. Lulu swiftly turned around, her face furrowing into an even harder scowl. She didn't understand it. Why is he pushing himself to help her? "Lulu, if you're worried about us getting hurt..."
The Black Mage turned away, refusing to make eye contact with her. "I'm not worried about you getting hurt! I..."
"Then what are you worried about, Lu?" Wakka asked, standing up.
"I..." Bravely, Lulu looked up and for a moment there, she stared into Auron's eyes. As if in slow motion, Auron noticed hints of shining tears in Lulu's eyes as she turned and fled from the scene before her. Cess noticed it as well, knowing full well what kind of look Lulu had given Auron. It was the same look Cess gave to Auron when she begged him to stay with her and when he didn't, she turned and left, just as Lulu had done.
"Woah! What was that about, ya?" Wakka spoke after watching the Black Mage leave quickly. He scratched the top of his head confusingly and looked at the other two, who seemed to know what just happaned. "Do you know what happened there?"
Auron said nothing. He turned around and left. "Auron?" Wakka called. He looked at Cess, who just bowed her head, speechless. "What's going on here?" Wakka asked outloud to no one in particular.
'You don't wanna know,' Cess thought. 'I wish I never knew.'
GoodGurl: SORRY SORRY SORRY for making you wait for a month! Has it really been a month? O_O YIKES! *runs away from tomatoes bring thrown her way.* Eh heh heh! ^_^; Anyways, I promise to commit myself to this fic, it's just that I was running out of ideas at that time and didn't know to continued it! Well, anyways hope you like dis fic! So, everyones happy that they found each other. And it seems like Cess still has feelings for our dear Lulu's Auron. Uh oh...does dis mean GoodGurl will have a love triangle or a love square? Heh heh! Maybe! ;) And questions still remains....where is Kai? o_O Even I'm not sure yet! ^_^;
Chapter 10 - I Wish I Never Knew
It seemed like forever the village has been ransacked by the deadly force of their number one enemy of the world. It travelled in a speeding light and was ten times larger than a normal whale. It was the living nightmare. The hellmouth of the world. It was Sin. Auron opened his eyes and breathe in air again. For a moment, he had collapsed, but as he looked around, he could hear mumbling voices behind him and that's when he knew, he was alive again. It took him a couple more seconds to realize that he was back outside, on a very uncomfortable bed beneath him.
"Are ye all right, Auron?" said a familiar voice.
The swordsman looked up to see the familiar face of Clyre Mirkie, the man who was kind enough to give them room in their Inn, while giving them work in return, in exchange for paying for the rooms. For the last two days, Auron and Lulu felt welcomed in their home. His mind suddenly wandered towards Lulu. The last time he was with her was being trapped inside the small storage, trying to breathe until they were found. Auron sat up, his head swirling in colors. He placed a hand on his temple, still feeling nausea running through his body and looked around slowly. People, he figured, that lived in this village were all staring at him, some with worried faces, some with curious looks, wondering who this man was.
"Where is Lulu?" he finally asked, after having the difficulty to speak from his dry mouth.
"She will be fine. She is resting at the moment," came a woman's voice. Auron looked up. A woman, around Lulu's age stepped in through a room to his right. She closed the room she entered from behind her and approached the man cautiously. He could tell the young woman was suspicious with the man, but through her eyes, she was trying her best not to be. She glanced at Clyre Mirkie, then back at Auron. "My name is Elya Seagon," she said, lifting up her hand towards him.
Auron shook her hand. "My name is Auron. What is Lulu's condition?" He stared into her eyes, hoping against hopes that black mage did not have any internal injuries or anything deadly consume her. When red haired woman blinnked and smiled reassuringly, the swordsman was relieved. "Can I see her?" Despite her looks of reassurance, he was still concerned for her. He has almost lost her twice.
Elya shook her head. "I do not think that is possible at the moment, though I assure you Auron that Lulu will be all right. As of now, she needs time to rest."
The man wanted to protest, but Clyre's hand had stopped him from continuing. He looked up, watching as the older man shook his head. Auron looked back at the woman and noticed her back to him. She went to the other door, which seemed to be the exit and never looked back before she left. "Who was that woman, Clyre? She seems to know a lot about...things." Her attitude irritated him. She was cold and very inexpressive about anything.
Clyre laughed, removing his hand from the younger man's shoulder. "She is one of the renowned doctors here in Presia. She used to be one of Lulu's good friends."
"Used to?" Auron never thought Lulu had so many friends. He knew that during her younger days, Lulu HAD friends, but never in his life had he imagined her to have the whole village being her friends. He might not know the whole truth, but he guessed that Lulu lost her friends since she movied out of the village and into Besaid.
"Aye," Clyre replied, startling Auron from his thoughts suddenly. He had forgotten Clyre was still answering his question earlier. "She USED to be friends with Elya Seagon, the late Dr. Bryce Seagon's daughter. She USED to be friends with all the children here in Presia when she was young, but..." He paused, unsure if he should continue. It certainly wasn't his place to tell someone else about this, when it was Lulu's job to do so. "I don't think I should say anything more."
Auron nodded patiently. He wanted to know more about Lulu's past, but he figured he should ask her himself. Lulu was certainly a mysterious woman. In some ways, he didn't care about Lulu's past and wouldn't care if Lulu didn't tell him if he asked her, because it wasn't his place to know, but in other ways, he wanted to know more about the mysterious black mage. Maybe there was something in her past that could help him beat Kai in their next match, in case he comes to Presia. Auron knew it would be a matter of time before Kai realizes they were here in Presia. Sighing deep into his throat, Auron slid himself down on the floor, feeling the cold concrete against his bare feet and began walking slowly towards the door where he knew Lulu was resting in. He shivered, feeling something cold sweep around his bare neck and chest that appeared suddenly out of nowhere. He almost staggered forward; his head still throbbing in pain from his experience inside the small storage room with no room for breathing. He was just an inch towards the door, when he felt that same large hand he felt earlier on his shoulder.
"Didn'tcha hear Elya tell ye that Lulu was resting right now?"
Auron frowned. "I will not disturb her, Clyre. I just want to make sure she's really back."
"Why would ye want te do that?" Clyre stared at him curiously.
The swordsman turned around, looking over the taller man's shoulder in a trance. "Because...because I lost hope when we were inside that storage and couldn't get out. Clyre, I almost lost her twice already and I just want to make sure that she wasn't gone for good. I want proof that she's still here."
Clyre took a deep breath. He had no choice. He reluctantly released his hand on Auron's shoulder and watched the man slowly opening the door. Looking back at the taller man, Auron breathed a 'thank you' to him, before he went inside, closing the door behind him. The swordsman was relieved to find that Lulu WAS there and that she hasn't left his side at all. He wanted to see her so badly, what with all the near death experiences she had so far. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if one of the Guardians died just by protecting herself, instead of protecting the one they're supposed to watch over. He approached her silently and examined her for a while, before sitting down on the bed lightly beside her. The bright sunlight cast a shadow on her secretive face and her long, dark hair cascaded down on the small, white pillow. Her eyes were closed, which was too bad, because Auron was quite eager to see her eyes and wonder what she was thinking. It was impossible for him to guess what she was thinking without the constant changes of her dark pupils. He lifted up a hand to touch her face, but quickly withdrew it.
She stirred and for a moment, all Auron could do was stay frozen in fear of her knowing he was there. He was expecting Lulu to be asleep still so he could watch her and touch her to make sure she WAS there with him. She turned her head towards the door. Auron was ready to bolt out of there, but Lulu's gaze had stopped him from going anywhere. Lulu smiled and stretched only a little, then sat up from bed.
"Hello, Sir Auron," Lulu spoke quietly.
Auron sighed silently and relaxed back in the chair. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Not at all," Lulu replied, putting her feet down on the floor. She shivered when she felt the cold surface of the floor touching her bare skin. Suddenly, Lulu felt waves of nausea and her dark eyes were surrounded by swirls of bright colors. Lulu leaned forward, but Auron was quick enough to catch her.
"You should be resting, Lulu," Auron whispered in her ear as he leaned her back against the bed, but the Black Mage shook her head and forced herself up from Auron's attemps to let her rest and quickly stood up. As stubborn as she was, Auron admired her strenght and her willingness to fight on even the worse possible things. However, even the strongest, even those who has faced many dangers in their lives fell back. Lulu stumbled forward once again and once again Auron was there to catch her fall. "Why don't you listen to me, Lulu?" This time, Auron's voice held a concern for the Black Mage.
Lulu looked up, feeling warm in Auron's arms. Their eyes met for a moment and their faces were just inches apart, when something interrupted that moment. Both Black Mage and Swordsman broke apart and looked out the window. Two familiar voices were calling out. "Hello!? Is anyone there!? Is anyone hurt?" Lulu recognized the voice as Rikku.
"Hey! If you're injured, just moan or something, ya!?" Auron knew that voice was Wakka's.
Lulu and Auron looked at each other. "That's them right?" Lulu asked, making sure she wasn't dreaming.
Auron nodded. "I think so." With his help, Auron wrapped one arm around Lulu's waist to keep her steady and the two walked back to the main area of the bomb shelter and joined the other villagers, who obviously heard the voices and were beginning to feel terrified, especially the young children. Clyre was standing by the door, looking out the window, wondering who these strangers were. "It's all right, Clyre. They are friends of ours," Auron told him.
Clyre looked over her shoulder. He gave Auron an expression of suspicion and then it quickly softened to a reassuring look.
Knock! Knock!
All heads turned towards the door.
"Hello in there? Is someone there?" came a third voice they didn't hear before.
Auron immediately recognized it to be Cess.' Taking a deep breath, Auron led Lulu towards Clyre so he can answer the door and was greeted by a sharp sword the moment he opened the metallic entrance.
"Is this one of ye friends, Auron?" Clyre asked.
All Lulu could do was stare at the unfamiliar woman who had her sword pinned against Auron's neck. The woman quickly withdrew the sword and looked at Auron, then at the people inside the building. The Swordsman rubbed his neck where the sword ALMOST cut throught and stared at her firmly. "Is this how you treat your friends these days, Cess?"
Cess sighed, putting her sword back in its sheath. "Well, you could have at least warned me that you were no enemy the moment you opened the door."
"AURON!" Cess was later joined by Rikku, Wakka and an ever so silent Kimahri, who found their way back to where they came from. The energetic blond girl, out of excitement for finding their two friends, wrapped her arms around the taller man and smiled. Auron hugged her back awkwardly. He has never seen Rikku THIS happy before. Without a moment too soon, Rikku pulled back and looked at Auron up and down. "What happened to you?"
Auron shrugged and quietly replied, "Been through hell."
Rikku laughed at Auron's joke, though the Swordsman didn't think it was. She looked at Lulu, who was hanging on to a middle aged man. She lifted an eyebrow curiously, glancing at the man beside her, but shook it off and went upto her to hug the Black Mage. Lulu was glad to see her friends again, but Rikku, despite her act of kindness, was really crushing her rib. "Ri...kk....u....." she gasped.
The blond girl felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and found Auron shaking his head. "Why? What's wrong, Lulu?" she asked, glancing back at the older woman.
Lulu couldn't answer, because she was trying to get her breathing back and when she did, she tried looking up with warm eyes, but ended up darkly than usual. "Don't hug me too tight," she simply answered. "You were cutting circulation to my lungs."
"Oh." She blushed. "Sorry," Rikku said, grinning. "I guess I got too excited." She stepped aside to let Wakka in. The large man shook Auron's hand instead of giving him a bear hug and approached Lulu cautiously. For a long time they have known each other, Wakka knew when or when not to close the space in her personal privacy. With that warning, however, Wakka couldn't help but wrap his large arms around her, glad that she, of all people was okay. Lulu awkwardly hugged her back, unsure how to react to this new behaviour. She was surprised that for a big man like him, he hugged gentler than a bear, unlike the smaller girl who could squeeze an eye out.
"Lu, it's good to see you again! Two days missing!?" Wakka looked at Auron and grinned. "I mean, what were you thinking Auron?"
Auron could only shrug as he smiled beneath his collar. "Sorry I was late."
Kimahri just stayed outside and nodded at the two, glad that they were safe.
"Nice to see you too, Kimahri," Auron spoke.
"What's going on here?" a new voice, one that Auron has never heard before around the village, echoed. All heads turned to the direction of a short man, roughly around his forties with balding, brown hair. None of the newcomers said anything, not even the two people who have stayed in the village for two days. They were as curious as the other three who have just arrived. The man held an angered expression that Auron and Lulu swore they've seen before.
For a moment, all was silent, when Clyre finally spoke. "Mayor Moris! We apologize for this noise. Two of my friends have found their companions here."
Lulu held her breath. Mayor Moris, she thought.
The short bald man glanced at the six men and women he has never seen before all his life, except maybe for one that he vaguely recognized. "Well, are they able bodies?" he asked only Clyre in particular.
"Pardon me?" Rikku asked curiously. Able bodies?
"What I mean, young girl, is that if you are all to stay in this village, I expect you all to share your strenghts in rebuilding this small village," Moris replied.
"Now, now, darling, I believe our visitors would want to eat first before they start working," a woman's voice spoke up. All heads had their attention this time towards a woman, who was Lulu's age and by the looks of the large rock on her finger, this was the Mayor's wife. She had, short reddish-brown hair and the brightest green eyes Lulu has ever seen on a woman so fit and young. She smiled at all six newcomers, linking her arms with her husband and nodded at them. "My name is Nune Shamer, Mayor Moris' wife." One hand seem to automatically move to her stomach, which everyone realized was obviously too large for the clothes she was wearing. Lulu rarely saw pregnant women these days. "This baby, who will soon be born, is Sonya... a girl." She gave another contagious smile. "Now!" She turned and looked behind her towards the villagers who were eating. Some, Auron noticed, were already gone ready to help fix the village. "Why don't you all eat first and worry about the village later? Some of the men have already started working on it, but first thing first....eat!"
"Yes! I'm hungry!" Rikku gasped, running to a nearby table, which was the only one still full of delicious food.
Wakka followed her, joining the blond girl at the same table and he sat across from her. The girl was already chewing on a large chunk of chicken that she put on her own plate. The Blitzball player shook his head in disbelief. "You're always hungry!"
Rikku looked at him and shrugged. "So?" she replied with a full mouth.
Wakka grimaced at the sight and took a piece of the half eaten full grown chicken in front of him, then bit on a large chunk, then began chewing on it. Kimahri and Cess joined them wordlessly and ate their own share of food they served themselves. Clyre led Lulu to the same table, helping her to sit down on a seat beside Cess, who was still a stranger to the Black Mage. Auron made sure Lulu was safely back inside and when he was certain, he turned and left to help the villagers with the damage done by Sin.
Everyone else was too busy eating, but Lulu, eating only a few portions of the large amount of food on the table, was the first one to notice Auron gone. She looked around for him and found the Swordsman outside, helping put up a broken window with hammer and nails. The Black Mage, feeling a bit better from the nausea, went out to join him. She found Auron with his back to her, on top of a ladder, too busy hammering a single nail at the top side of a window sill to notice Lulu coming out. She stood there, watching him for a while, until he stopped and, without looking back, held out his hand to her.
"Could you hand me another nail please?" he said, holding the window back to keep it steady and straight.
Lulu did as she was told, looked around and found the box of large nails behind her on a chair. She picked one up and handed it to Auron. For a moment their hands touched, she felt electricity run through her.
As if feeling it too, Auron finally turned around, wondering what made him quiver so much and noticed Lulu standing there. "Lulu?" Surprised, Auron almost fell back, but Lulu held unto his legs to keep him steady. Thankful for Lulu being there, he sighed in relief, sweat dropping at the sides of his temple, embarrassingly. "Thanks," he mumbled.
The Black Mage nodded. "No problem." She quickly withdrew her hand from him, unaware that she has been staring at him for the longest time.
Auron turned away, turning back to his work, trying not to get distracted and pound the hammer into his fingers instead of the nails. Lulu turned around, hoping to find other ways to distract herself instead of the Swordsman hammering and indeed found something. She saw a woman, with curly brown hair, lifting up a tray with glass filled lemonade, while at the same time, juggling with a basket full of muffins in her right arm. It looks as though she was having trouble, so Lulu approached her, lending out a hand to catch a muffin that fell out of the wicker basket.
"Oh, thank you dear!" the woman said, greatfully smiling up at the dark haired beauty.
Lulu nodded, putting the muffin back inside the basket. "May I help you with that?" she asked, tilting her head towards the tray that the older woman was having trouble balancing in her arms. The woman, glad with the younger woman's help, accepted her offer and handed the tray slowly to her. Lulu accepted it and, as if natural with it, held the tray with so much ease and confidence. "Where do I take it?"
The woman smiled, amazed by her talent. "You just take it to all the men who are working hard and seem to need a few drinks or two. My name is Vlia, by the way."
"Oh," was all Lulu could say. "Hello, Vlia. My name is Lulu." The Black Mage has never seen this woman before. She looked around, hoping to offer someone a drink so she had something to do, instead of standing there acting like an idiot, but with no such luck. Almost everyone seem to have gotten drinks with them and were getting refilled everytime it was gone by other women who were doing the same job as Vlia. Lulu noticed the differences between the Presia of today from the Presia of her past. There were many people she didn't recognize during her childhood, including Vlia. The last time she remembered, there were no children running around her childhood home. Because of that, Presia was worldly known as a village of 'death,' metaphorically speaking, because somehow, couples who wanted children, weren't able to have any. Lulu and Kai were the first children in the village and then followed by Elya, her other friend (whom she became enemies with). After that, when she left, from what Clyre had told her about, many children were instantly born.
"Could I have a lemonade?" came a deep voice from behind her.
Startled, Lulu immediately turned, almost toppling all of the lemonade glass on the ground, but the Black Mage, quick to her senses, was able to balance it out on the tray. She found herself face to face with Auron, who seemed amused with her act of 'balancing the lemonade glass.' Noticing him trying not to smirk, Lulu frowned. "Is there something you find funny about what I just did, Sir Auron?"
Auron shook his head, erasing the amused look from his face and glanced at the drinks. "No, but I was wondering if I could have a lemonade."
Lulu nodded, lifting up a hand to give a glass to Auron, who took it gently and drank it with one gulp. Amazed at his thirst, Lulu watched as the tall man downed it quickly and put the empty glass back on the tray. "Sir Auron, empty glasses do not belong on the tray, thank you," she spoke, coldly.
As if laughing was one of his habits these days, Auron chuckled and picked the empty glass back up in his hands and nodded. "Yes, of course." He turned around and went back to his work place near the window sill. Lulu, confused by what just happened, watched him wait for another woman refill his glass. This time, Auron did not drink it quickly. He went back to work again, thanked the woman who refilled his glass with orange juice and began hammering more nails against the wooden window.
Lulu sighed, turned and searched for more customers for her lemonade and when no one else would want anymore, she put the tray down on a table she didn't know was there and walked back inside the sheltered building. It was far too hot for her to stay long. She felt beads of sweat trickle down from her forehead and around the sides of her face. The Black Mage wiped them away with a swipe of her arms and noticed the same woman with Rikku, Wakka and Kimahri earlier, sitting on the same chair she was sitting earlier for lunch. She joined her, sitting across from the brown haired woman. "I don't believe we've been introduced..." Lulu spoke out.
Cess looked up and nodded, showing her a single hand to shake. "My name is Cess Marjorie. We were introduced...only a little. I was the one who was beaten badly back when I was fighting with...Kai..." She paused, looking up as the Black Mage's face wrinkled in dissatisfaction. "I see you hate it too to hear HIS name?"
The Black Mage said nothing and slowly nodded in agreement. "I guess we're both in the same page. What happened after that?"
"I was taken back into your ship, but I left for I did not need their help. I almost had Kai, but he.... he disappeared."
Lulu's eyes widened. "So you're telling me he's not dead?"
Cess frowned, turning away. "I'm afraid so."
"I see..."
"Hey, hey don't fret now, Lu, ya?" spoke a voice. Both women looked up to find Wakka appearing from behind the same door Lulu went through and joined the two women in the table. He stared worriedly at Lulu's frightened face. "Don't worry. Since we're all here, we're going to gang up on him and beat him to the pulp!" He slammed a fist down on the ground, making Cess flinch.
Lulu's face showed little emotion to what seemed like a joke to Waka and stood up. "Who says anything about you all being involved? I've said this many times that this is my fight and said many times that this has nothing to do with any of you! If Kai is looking for me and me alone, then I'll be the one to take him on. If any of you get hurt then-"
"Then it's our own fault for not taking care of you enough," Auron's voice echoed, interrupting her. Lulu swiftly turned around, her face furrowing into an even harder scowl. She didn't understand it. Why is he pushing himself to help her? "Lulu, if you're worried about us getting hurt..."
The Black Mage turned away, refusing to make eye contact with her. "I'm not worried about you getting hurt! I..."
"Then what are you worried about, Lu?" Wakka asked, standing up.
"I..." Bravely, Lulu looked up and for a moment there, she stared into Auron's eyes. As if in slow motion, Auron noticed hints of shining tears in Lulu's eyes as she turned and fled from the scene before her. Cess noticed it as well, knowing full well what kind of look Lulu had given Auron. It was the same look Cess gave to Auron when she begged him to stay with her and when he didn't, she turned and left, just as Lulu had done.
"Woah! What was that about, ya?" Wakka spoke after watching the Black Mage leave quickly. He scratched the top of his head confusingly and looked at the other two, who seemed to know what just happaned. "Do you know what happened there?"
Auron said nothing. He turned around and left. "Auron?" Wakka called. He looked at Cess, who just bowed her head, speechless. "What's going on here?" Wakka asked outloud to no one in particular.
'You don't wanna know,' Cess thought. 'I wish I never knew.'
GoodGurl: SORRY SORRY SORRY for making you wait for a month! Has it really been a month? O_O YIKES! *runs away from tomatoes bring thrown her way.* Eh heh heh! ^_^; Anyways, I promise to commit myself to this fic, it's just that I was running out of ideas at that time and didn't know to continued it! Well, anyways hope you like dis fic! So, everyones happy that they found each other. And it seems like Cess still has feelings for our dear Lulu's Auron. Uh oh...does dis mean GoodGurl will have a love triangle or a love square? Heh heh! Maybe! ;) And questions still remains....where is Kai? o_O Even I'm not sure yet! ^_^;
