HitomiKo-chan: Thanks for the compliment. I agree about the ooc'ness of Auron. But isn't that the hard part, we all go in, play the game and come out with different versions of our characters. And you are making me blush with all of your compliments.

Aurikku4Eva: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like the story. Hope that this keeps up the spirit of the thing that you like.

Chapter Five
Tysh

Morning came, and they embarked back onto the Calm Land and onto the backs of Chocobos. Which didn't make him the happy camper, but Auron stayed silent, as always and glanced at the group, for all the turmoil Besaid had been good for them. Perhaps visiting the other temples would help them prepare to battle Sin. It seemed like they could talk to the Aeons in the temples now and the more they understood the better they would be able to fight Sin.

All of a sudden the reached a mini-cliff. And then he saw Tidus jump off the cliff, or Tidus' chocobo. He stifled a scream of warning in his throat, he was riding rear guard watching out for danger, when he heard Tidus prompt Lulu, it's just a little jump. Yuna had already happily joined him on the other side.

You're not afraid are you? Big bad legendary guardian afraid of a little jump Rikku impishly teased him.

Of course not Auron said stiffly.

Too soon however it was his turn to jump. He didn't want to seem afraid and Rikku had just lead her chocobo to leap off the cliff. So he sneered his best sneer and launched his chocobo off the cliff, deciding that they better finish whatever they were doing here soon, because he didn't want to keep jumping off the stupid cliff.

They kept riding, over more land, and over a bridge. Tidus then decided to race with the wild chocobos that were standing on the edge. Showoff Auron thought, although he was glad to be off that evil yellow bird. After Tidus won they made their way into the temple.

Belgemine's Aeon were good, but Yuna's were better. She defeated all of Belgemine's quickly. And proceeded to get her final dark summon the Magus Sisters. And they got the celestial mirror, which meant they could finally form these ultimate weapons. Rikku looked a little scared or sad when they sent Belgemine although Auron couldn't figured out why(A/N: he's a little thick isn't he!).

By the time they returned to Rin's travel agency in the middle of the Calm Lands it was late in the day, so they returned back up to the ship.

The group was deep in discussion, they couldn't decide whether or not they wanted to go back to Macalania woods right away and form Tidus' Calablog and Yuna's Nirvana or if they wanted to collect other raw materials first.

It was Lulu who first broke the silence.

I think we should head to the woods, it's always better to have a weapon in the hand than five incomplete.

Kimhari think many things need to be done in woods too. Let us go.

Wakka had long ago given up getting his ultimate weapon, the team had refused to go play blitzball, again. Seemed happy with this decision. So did the rest of the group. Or Rikku, Tidus and Yuna looked happy. Auron of course kept his neutral face on.

After the meeting Rikku moved to the side of him.

Just think Auron, no chocobos in the woods. She winked at him as she slide out of the room.



Night came and found Auron and Rikku on the observation deck.

At first I was scared, I still am but I think that Yunie has a chance to live now. And she and Tidus are so happy. And so very much in love. Rikku placed emphasis on the very much as if she was trying to portray something to Auron.

Auron just sat their holding her and listening. Ignoring her warm body pressed against his, ignoring her hand wrapped around his waist. Ignoring the way her soft hair tickled him. Well perhaps he admitted he wasn't ignoring it as much as he should be. But he could have stayed this way forever.

Anyway and I think the Wakka and Lulu have something going on to. Don't you think?



I knew you agreed with me, Rikku giggled as Auron tried to level her with one of his death glares, but he had forgotten his glasses where off and the moment he looked into her eyes he lost himself.

Always the practical one Auron had secretly scoffed at those people who said that time stopped and the world shrank when you glanced into the eyes of the one you loved. Tysh where had that come from, he couldn't love her, nope nada. And yet all he could see was her eyes, the strangely compelling forces that drowned out her voice, that drowned out his voice, that drowned out the sounds of the ship and left him staring into those mesmerizing Al Bhed eyes. His mouth opened slightly and started to lean closer. Anything to get to those eyes. Anything to posses her, anything to make her his....anything....

CRACK....BOOM.....

Thunder sounded in the air around them, making her squeeze her eyes shut and jump into Auron's lap. The thunder brought Auron back to reality. He saw the deck, he saw her, he heard her. But he heard her whimpering. Thunder really did scare his little sprite. So he tried to comfort her.

A little while later after the thunder had calmed down, he looked down and saw that her death grip on him had loosened and she was asleep, again. Honestly he thought, that girl slept more than anyone he knew. Including Tidus and Tidus was the original bed slug. He dropped her off in her room and resumed his wandering. He wasn't in the mood for Rin's insinuating conversation, or indeed anyone's conversation so he headed back up to the observation deck.

Once there he contemplated that which he had almost done earlier that night. He had almost kissed her, not just a little kiss on the head, which was his standard good night to her now, no he had almost tried to devour her. And that just wasn't good at all. He sat confused on the deck wondering why, why he had to fall for that little girl, his little sprite. He knew that he would never know. But now even though he had tried to deny it for weeks now, he knew that he was in love.

Wasn't it just ironic, he thought. He was in love, Love the emotion that he disdained. Love the emotion that only brought hurt and pain. Love that made you weak. Love that made you..complete. He couldn't imagine life with out his Rikku now. And he knew this was bad. He was supposed to be protecting his guardian, Yuna. Not Rikku. But he feared given the choice he would dive after her. In an instant. Without a thought. And that perplexed him. He was the famous guardian, he was the one who protected his summoners to the last. But now she was here and he was in a state of turmoil, and no amount of his so called legendary guardianness was going to help him solve this.

What to do, what to do. And with that he banged his head against the cold metal wall.

Hehe, don't hurt yourself, ya.



I couldn't sleep, ya. Kept thinking about Lu. And Chappu.

Auron's silence seemed to encourage Wakka.

Can't keep Lu out of my mind, ya know. But she loved Chappu and I'm not him. It's good to see that you are human after all, ya. Bangin' your head on the wall like Rikku, ya.

What did Wakka mean? He couldn't be suggesting. Some of his discomfort must have reached to his face.

I didn't mean anything by it, Sir Auron, ya. I just was thinking it was nice to see you show frustration too.

Auron stayed silent, not trusting his voice to keep loyalty.

Well, good night Sir Auron.

Tysh dryd kenm. If even Wakka was beginning to suspect something, then their facade was wall over. Not that it was a facade on her side. She was always bubbly and happy and so....wonderful. But he was supposed to be the emotionless one. He was supposed to be the responsible one, not falling in love. Tysh rec meddma cbneda But truth be told he wasn't upset with her, but rather with himself. He didn't know what he was going to do. He almost kissed her. And oh, how he wanted to. Tysh

A/N: and I bet you thought that Auron and Rikku would share their first real kiss. Ha. Auron's a little paranoid isn't he and insecure, muhahaha. Worry not though soon their feelings will make it self evident. And wow, if you've stuck around this long I'm impressed.