Love Through Jealousy
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Three: Breaking in Slowly
He automatically pulled her closer to his warm body as another bolt of lightning passed through the sky, and the green-eyed Al Bhed looked up at him, a smirk and a silent 'Keep it up!" in her sparkling green orbs, hidden underneath her rain-soaked hair. On his other side, he could feel two pairs of disbelieving eyes boring into him.
Rikku probably felt the gazes too, for she huddled closer up to him, the rain sending a chill through her body. Her outfit was sticking a bit too close to her body for her liking, and her claw was digging painfully into her hip. She could barely see because of her hair; impatiently, she pushed the dark blonde mess out of her falsely innocent face.
Up ahead, she could see Yuna and Tidus walking close to each other, both drenched but trying not to show it. Kimahri paced slowly behind them, constantly on the watch for enemies, his fur matted and clinging to his body. His spear glinted with water. The Thunder Plains were relentless. Rikku personally didn't think she'd ever be properly dry again. Five minutes outside and she already couldn't feel her arms.
Thunder rumbled warningly up in the sky, along with a flash of lightning. Behind her, the black mage shut her crimson eyes and raised her arms, thoughtlessly countering the bolt before it hit the silent party. This action had been repeated so many times that Yuna was the only one who still looked up and thanked the mage for protecting them.
Of course, Rikku mused, looking up at the blitzball player next to her, whose hair still managed to stick up despite the weather, she knew that Wakka would never get tired of watching Lulu perform magic.
Typical stalker, really.
She smirked, but quickly hid her smile as Wakka raised an eyebrow down at her.
Rikku suddenly realized that Yuna was turning off to the right, towards a large, dark shape in the distance. The rest of them followed wordlessly, hoping that the summoner would lead them to shelter.
+++
Auron eyed the two in front of him, his eye narrowed. Against the rain, of course. Nothing else. He unconsciously scratched his neck, and the slightly darker woman next to him raised an eyebrow, hair ornaments tinkling faintly.
"You seem stressed," she murmured, counting another shock of electricity, her waves of smooth dark hair falling over her face, the rain water gliding over her every curve. Her Onion Knight looked at him with dark eyes from the safety of her arms.
He grunted, attempting to dry one cheek. Lulu took his response as a quiet 'No way', and she smiled softly to herself, making sure that Auron didn't notice. She had seen the way Auron had looked at the young Al Bhed girl. It wasn't spite. It wasn't annoyance.
It was almost along the lines of affection.
"Strange though," she whispered, focusing on the two in front and ignoring the strange sensation buried deep inside her chest, so faint that she barely registered that it was there. What was it? It had been so long since she had felt it before... With who...? Her breath hitched slightly. Chappu... "I never would have thought... those two..." She looked up at Auron, cranking her moist neck with some difficulty. "It just happened so quickly. You didn't do anything, by chance..." It was more of a statement then question.
Auron lifted a finger and pushed his glasses up so that they rested pleasantly and shielded his eyes from the rain, hiding the bigger part of his scar. "I don't know what you're talking about." He shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't that he was annoyed at Lulu - she made a good ally, was someone that he could talk to and he usually felt more relaxed around her - but had felt like she had just backed him up into a corner. So... she knew, did she?
She noticed now he answered a bit faster than he usually would have, but waved it aside, closing her ghostly eyes. "Wakka... I hope he doesn't take Rikku too seriously."
This time, it was Auron's turn to raise an eyebrow. The mage caught his suspicious gaze and sighed, shaking her head.
She suddenly froze. Why was she thinking that way? She didn't like Wakka. Just that fact that he was Chappu's brother... Yes, that was it. She needed to protect him now that Chappu was gone. Her mind jumped into quick action, and she caught her small stumble before Auron took any notice.
"It's not what you think. Wakka's been my friend for a long time. I'm just worried about what he'll do one he discovers that Rikku's an Al Bhed..." She wished that that was the only reason that she was feeling discomfort.
Auron's eye widened. He had forgotten about that. Eyeing the pair in front of them, he wondered how badly Wakka would take it.
+++
Yunie... was going to marry... Seymour?
NO! NO! NO!
Rikku shook her head furiously, flecks of rain darting everywhere, hands curled up in fists. That blue-headed moron? The bastard... Why? Why would she want to do that?
Sure, Rikku mused, her anger still boiling as she watched Yuna talk quietly to the others, her head bowed, it was for Spira. But... Rikku clenched her teeth. For the good of Spira. Yeah right.
The summoner turned to look at her, a pleading look in her blue and green eyes. Rikku looked away, her own vision turning foggy. This wasn't happening.
All eyes were on her now. Her face turned a healthy shade of pink, and instinctively pulled closer to a now partially dry Wakka. Immediately, she felt two pairs of eyes turn away.
So at least that part of the plan was going well. But...
"Yunie! You can't do this!" The words left before she could stop herself. Her cousin looked at her sadly, and out of the corner of her eye, the Al Bhed could see Tidus still out in the rain, refusing stubbornly to come underneath the shelter. She wondered how terrible he was feeling right now.
"Yunie..." she whispered softly. "You just... you can't do this... You'll regret it for the rest of your life."
At this, Yuna smiled, but her eyes still were empty. "My life..." she murmured, soft enough that only Rikku could hear her. "I don't have much longer, anyway. Once Sin is gone... I'll leave Seymour too..."
Rikku's green eyes widened. She had forgotten. Summoners die. Without warning, she launched herself at the other girl and broke down in sobs. There was a comforting hand on her back, and she knew that Wakka was trying to cheer her up. If only that hand belonged to Auron...
Yuna laughed quietly and then pulled away. "Don't cry yet, Rikku. It's not the right time for tears." Her eyes shimmered. "I've already accepted my fate. We all have. I hope you can too."
Slowly, Rikku pulled away, rubbing her red eyes and cheeks. She put on her usual smile and nodded, ignoring the lump in her throat. "Okay... Yuna."
At the use of her proper name, Yuna looked startled but pleased. "Thanks Rikku."
The blond nodded. Right. She would act more mature... She needed to act more mature... for Yuna. Though the thought of kidnapping the summoner sounded good right about now... NO! Must resist temptation.
It amazed her at how she could still think like a child at a time like this. But when Yuna laughed softly at her expression, Rikku sighed before leaning back into Wakka's arms. Her cousin blinked before smiling.
So Yuna didn't want Rikku to worry about her, did she? Well, Rikku mused, she'd try. Though it would be hard.
In the meantime, however, she and Wakka still had a little matter at hand. She caught Wakka's eye and he smiled softly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Wakka..." she murmured, her green eyes glittering as she glanced at their surroundings and towards a certain couple.
A jolt ran through her as she noticed Auron and Lulu sitting quietly together, eyes closed and apparently unaware of the little show that she and Wakka were pulling off. Or so she thought. Her eyes latched onto Auron's regular, cold stare for a split second before she forced herself to look away. Auron. Did he not care for her at all?
She'd bet all her money that Wakka was wondering the same thing about Lulu at that very moment.
+++
Screaming in pain, Rikku was thrown backwards by the force of the chimera's attack. Clutching her ripped, if not broken, leg, she slowly staggered up before her knees gave way and she collapsed.
Yuna was at her side in an instant, shortly followed by Tidus and slightly bruised Wakka. Rikku hissed out as the summoner touched her leg and prepared to cure it.
There was something wrong with that monster, the Al Bhed mused, staring at her shredded leg. It was too strong. Not even Yuna's Valefor had stood a chance. If the situation had been better, Rikku was sure that the chimera would have been easily deposited of. But the fact that everyone was immensely tired from their previous experience in the Thunder Plains... they couldn't stand a chance...
From between Tidus and Wakka's heads, Rikku glared at the advancing chimera, its multiple pairs of eyes glittering through the jeweled trees. She tried to shove the others away, tried to tell them that they were all in danger, but she was barely even able to open her mouth before two other figures stepped in front of the approaching monster.
Auron and Lulu.
There was something about the two of them that made Rikku freeze. Wakka and Tidus turned around to see what had caught her attention.
Was it anger? Burning fury? Yuna looked up, a bit worn out after using curaga, and swallowed. There was something radiating off of her two most trusted guardians, as if they were driven on by rage.
Shifting his sword onto his shoulder, Auron fixed the chimera in a cold glare, something burning inside of him. He wouldn't allow the monster to go any further. Hurting his party members... hurting her... Clenching his fist, he sprinted forward, dealing a heavy blow on the beast's torso. Blackish blood oozed out of the open wound and the chimera shrieked, blinded by pain and wildly swiping at the guardian with its claws.
Auron jumped out of the way just as the black mage behind him raised her arms, Onion Knight jumping from her hold. Closing her ghostly eyes, the mage called up one of her fiercest firaga spells and watched in silence as the beast was burned alive before it collapsed and disappeared.
The silence stretched on before Auron turned around. Scratching his neck, he walked away into the glistening trees. "The sooner we get out of the Macalania Woods, the better."
Picking up her Onion Knight, Lulu readjusting on of her braids before staring at Yuna, acting as if nothing had just happened. "We should leave before other enemies should care to come."
The summoner nodded, still slightly stunned by her guardians' previous strength.
As he helped Rikku up, Wakka frowned. If Lulu was overexerting herself...
Rikku smiled at his worried face. He was too easy to read. "You're worried, aren'cha?"
The blitzball player blinked before shrugging.
"You are. Well guess what? I'm sure that Lulu and Auron don't need to be fussed over." Accepting his hand, Rikku jumped up, stretching her leg that Yuna had previously healed, but her mind was far from worrying about her injuries.
"This is working a lot better than I expected it too," she whispered, and Wakka raised an eyebrow. "What? I think you hit your head, ya? Or maybe too much blood-loss. You almost died, ya? 'Working better than I expected'..." He scoffed.
The Al Bhed ruffled up his hair playfully. "I meant the whole jealousy thing with Auron and Lulu."
Wakka blinked. "How so?"
"So innocent," the girl murmured, flicking his nose. "They're uncomfortable, can't you tell? They can't get over the fact that we supposedly like each other. Well, I guess we'll just have to break them in slowly, won't we?" She flashed a sly smile. "But anyway, we should get going or we're gonna lose them."
Wakka groaned. "How long of this acting are we gonna need? I just might end up dumping you, ya?"
She looked around her at the new glittering and mysterious atmosphere, unable to suppress a shiver and ignoring Wakka's previous statement. "This place gives me the creeps..."
"You give me the creeps..." Wakka muttered, dodging a wild blow from Rikku.
**********
A/N: Believe me, this is going to get more interesting, I promise. So Lulu and Auron took it a bit... quietly, didn't they? Well... things just might change... I have the next chapter already planned out in my head, and though I might not use it, you people just might be reading about an outraged Auron soon... hehe... But anyhoo, please R&R!
--Natsue Arishima
By Natsue Arishima
Chapter Three: Breaking in Slowly
He automatically pulled her closer to his warm body as another bolt of lightning passed through the sky, and the green-eyed Al Bhed looked up at him, a smirk and a silent 'Keep it up!" in her sparkling green orbs, hidden underneath her rain-soaked hair. On his other side, he could feel two pairs of disbelieving eyes boring into him.
Rikku probably felt the gazes too, for she huddled closer up to him, the rain sending a chill through her body. Her outfit was sticking a bit too close to her body for her liking, and her claw was digging painfully into her hip. She could barely see because of her hair; impatiently, she pushed the dark blonde mess out of her falsely innocent face.
Up ahead, she could see Yuna and Tidus walking close to each other, both drenched but trying not to show it. Kimahri paced slowly behind them, constantly on the watch for enemies, his fur matted and clinging to his body. His spear glinted with water. The Thunder Plains were relentless. Rikku personally didn't think she'd ever be properly dry again. Five minutes outside and she already couldn't feel her arms.
Thunder rumbled warningly up in the sky, along with a flash of lightning. Behind her, the black mage shut her crimson eyes and raised her arms, thoughtlessly countering the bolt before it hit the silent party. This action had been repeated so many times that Yuna was the only one who still looked up and thanked the mage for protecting them.
Of course, Rikku mused, looking up at the blitzball player next to her, whose hair still managed to stick up despite the weather, she knew that Wakka would never get tired of watching Lulu perform magic.
Typical stalker, really.
She smirked, but quickly hid her smile as Wakka raised an eyebrow down at her.
Rikku suddenly realized that Yuna was turning off to the right, towards a large, dark shape in the distance. The rest of them followed wordlessly, hoping that the summoner would lead them to shelter.
+++
Auron eyed the two in front of him, his eye narrowed. Against the rain, of course. Nothing else. He unconsciously scratched his neck, and the slightly darker woman next to him raised an eyebrow, hair ornaments tinkling faintly.
"You seem stressed," she murmured, counting another shock of electricity, her waves of smooth dark hair falling over her face, the rain water gliding over her every curve. Her Onion Knight looked at him with dark eyes from the safety of her arms.
He grunted, attempting to dry one cheek. Lulu took his response as a quiet 'No way', and she smiled softly to herself, making sure that Auron didn't notice. She had seen the way Auron had looked at the young Al Bhed girl. It wasn't spite. It wasn't annoyance.
It was almost along the lines of affection.
"Strange though," she whispered, focusing on the two in front and ignoring the strange sensation buried deep inside her chest, so faint that she barely registered that it was there. What was it? It had been so long since she had felt it before... With who...? Her breath hitched slightly. Chappu... "I never would have thought... those two..." She looked up at Auron, cranking her moist neck with some difficulty. "It just happened so quickly. You didn't do anything, by chance..." It was more of a statement then question.
Auron lifted a finger and pushed his glasses up so that they rested pleasantly and shielded his eyes from the rain, hiding the bigger part of his scar. "I don't know what you're talking about." He shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't that he was annoyed at Lulu - she made a good ally, was someone that he could talk to and he usually felt more relaxed around her - but had felt like she had just backed him up into a corner. So... she knew, did she?
She noticed now he answered a bit faster than he usually would have, but waved it aside, closing her ghostly eyes. "Wakka... I hope he doesn't take Rikku too seriously."
This time, it was Auron's turn to raise an eyebrow. The mage caught his suspicious gaze and sighed, shaking her head.
She suddenly froze. Why was she thinking that way? She didn't like Wakka. Just that fact that he was Chappu's brother... Yes, that was it. She needed to protect him now that Chappu was gone. Her mind jumped into quick action, and she caught her small stumble before Auron took any notice.
"It's not what you think. Wakka's been my friend for a long time. I'm just worried about what he'll do one he discovers that Rikku's an Al Bhed..." She wished that that was the only reason that she was feeling discomfort.
Auron's eye widened. He had forgotten about that. Eyeing the pair in front of them, he wondered how badly Wakka would take it.
+++
Yunie... was going to marry... Seymour?
NO! NO! NO!
Rikku shook her head furiously, flecks of rain darting everywhere, hands curled up in fists. That blue-headed moron? The bastard... Why? Why would she want to do that?
Sure, Rikku mused, her anger still boiling as she watched Yuna talk quietly to the others, her head bowed, it was for Spira. But... Rikku clenched her teeth. For the good of Spira. Yeah right.
The summoner turned to look at her, a pleading look in her blue and green eyes. Rikku looked away, her own vision turning foggy. This wasn't happening.
All eyes were on her now. Her face turned a healthy shade of pink, and instinctively pulled closer to a now partially dry Wakka. Immediately, she felt two pairs of eyes turn away.
So at least that part of the plan was going well. But...
"Yunie! You can't do this!" The words left before she could stop herself. Her cousin looked at her sadly, and out of the corner of her eye, the Al Bhed could see Tidus still out in the rain, refusing stubbornly to come underneath the shelter. She wondered how terrible he was feeling right now.
"Yunie..." she whispered softly. "You just... you can't do this... You'll regret it for the rest of your life."
At this, Yuna smiled, but her eyes still were empty. "My life..." she murmured, soft enough that only Rikku could hear her. "I don't have much longer, anyway. Once Sin is gone... I'll leave Seymour too..."
Rikku's green eyes widened. She had forgotten. Summoners die. Without warning, she launched herself at the other girl and broke down in sobs. There was a comforting hand on her back, and she knew that Wakka was trying to cheer her up. If only that hand belonged to Auron...
Yuna laughed quietly and then pulled away. "Don't cry yet, Rikku. It's not the right time for tears." Her eyes shimmered. "I've already accepted my fate. We all have. I hope you can too."
Slowly, Rikku pulled away, rubbing her red eyes and cheeks. She put on her usual smile and nodded, ignoring the lump in her throat. "Okay... Yuna."
At the use of her proper name, Yuna looked startled but pleased. "Thanks Rikku."
The blond nodded. Right. She would act more mature... She needed to act more mature... for Yuna. Though the thought of kidnapping the summoner sounded good right about now... NO! Must resist temptation.
It amazed her at how she could still think like a child at a time like this. But when Yuna laughed softly at her expression, Rikku sighed before leaning back into Wakka's arms. Her cousin blinked before smiling.
So Yuna didn't want Rikku to worry about her, did she? Well, Rikku mused, she'd try. Though it would be hard.
In the meantime, however, she and Wakka still had a little matter at hand. She caught Wakka's eye and he smiled softly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "Wakka..." she murmured, her green eyes glittering as she glanced at their surroundings and towards a certain couple.
A jolt ran through her as she noticed Auron and Lulu sitting quietly together, eyes closed and apparently unaware of the little show that she and Wakka were pulling off. Or so she thought. Her eyes latched onto Auron's regular, cold stare for a split second before she forced herself to look away. Auron. Did he not care for her at all?
She'd bet all her money that Wakka was wondering the same thing about Lulu at that very moment.
+++
Screaming in pain, Rikku was thrown backwards by the force of the chimera's attack. Clutching her ripped, if not broken, leg, she slowly staggered up before her knees gave way and she collapsed.
Yuna was at her side in an instant, shortly followed by Tidus and slightly bruised Wakka. Rikku hissed out as the summoner touched her leg and prepared to cure it.
There was something wrong with that monster, the Al Bhed mused, staring at her shredded leg. It was too strong. Not even Yuna's Valefor had stood a chance. If the situation had been better, Rikku was sure that the chimera would have been easily deposited of. But the fact that everyone was immensely tired from their previous experience in the Thunder Plains... they couldn't stand a chance...
From between Tidus and Wakka's heads, Rikku glared at the advancing chimera, its multiple pairs of eyes glittering through the jeweled trees. She tried to shove the others away, tried to tell them that they were all in danger, but she was barely even able to open her mouth before two other figures stepped in front of the approaching monster.
Auron and Lulu.
There was something about the two of them that made Rikku freeze. Wakka and Tidus turned around to see what had caught her attention.
Was it anger? Burning fury? Yuna looked up, a bit worn out after using curaga, and swallowed. There was something radiating off of her two most trusted guardians, as if they were driven on by rage.
Shifting his sword onto his shoulder, Auron fixed the chimera in a cold glare, something burning inside of him. He wouldn't allow the monster to go any further. Hurting his party members... hurting her... Clenching his fist, he sprinted forward, dealing a heavy blow on the beast's torso. Blackish blood oozed out of the open wound and the chimera shrieked, blinded by pain and wildly swiping at the guardian with its claws.
Auron jumped out of the way just as the black mage behind him raised her arms, Onion Knight jumping from her hold. Closing her ghostly eyes, the mage called up one of her fiercest firaga spells and watched in silence as the beast was burned alive before it collapsed and disappeared.
The silence stretched on before Auron turned around. Scratching his neck, he walked away into the glistening trees. "The sooner we get out of the Macalania Woods, the better."
Picking up her Onion Knight, Lulu readjusting on of her braids before staring at Yuna, acting as if nothing had just happened. "We should leave before other enemies should care to come."
The summoner nodded, still slightly stunned by her guardians' previous strength.
As he helped Rikku up, Wakka frowned. If Lulu was overexerting herself...
Rikku smiled at his worried face. He was too easy to read. "You're worried, aren'cha?"
The blitzball player blinked before shrugging.
"You are. Well guess what? I'm sure that Lulu and Auron don't need to be fussed over." Accepting his hand, Rikku jumped up, stretching her leg that Yuna had previously healed, but her mind was far from worrying about her injuries.
"This is working a lot better than I expected it too," she whispered, and Wakka raised an eyebrow. "What? I think you hit your head, ya? Or maybe too much blood-loss. You almost died, ya? 'Working better than I expected'..." He scoffed.
The Al Bhed ruffled up his hair playfully. "I meant the whole jealousy thing with Auron and Lulu."
Wakka blinked. "How so?"
"So innocent," the girl murmured, flicking his nose. "They're uncomfortable, can't you tell? They can't get over the fact that we supposedly like each other. Well, I guess we'll just have to break them in slowly, won't we?" She flashed a sly smile. "But anyway, we should get going or we're gonna lose them."
Wakka groaned. "How long of this acting are we gonna need? I just might end up dumping you, ya?"
She looked around her at the new glittering and mysterious atmosphere, unable to suppress a shiver and ignoring Wakka's previous statement. "This place gives me the creeps..."
"You give me the creeps..." Wakka muttered, dodging a wild blow from Rikku.
**********
A/N: Believe me, this is going to get more interesting, I promise. So Lulu and Auron took it a bit... quietly, didn't they? Well... things just might change... I have the next chapter already planned out in my head, and though I might not use it, you people just might be reading about an outraged Auron soon... hehe... But anyhoo, please R&R!
--Natsue Arishima