A/N: Yep, this is the famous, wanting to be seen, glorious, magnificent, powerful, moving, none of the above Chapter 2! Enjoy it. (: I really hope that I'm not just writing this and getting no feedback.

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Disclaimer: Yeah. I don't own them, none of the original characters, none of the settings etc, unless I've made them up.

Your world is coming to it's end
But you don't have to be afraid - I'm here for you
Save your happiness for tomorrow
And today we'll drown in your tears
A drop of your blood tastes like wine today

Come closer my dear
It is just the beginning of the end
Yes, I'm here for you
Save your happiness for tomorrow
And today we'll drown in your tears
A drop of your blood tastes like wine today

The Beginning of the End, HIM

Rikku had completely forgotten how confusing the Macalania Forest was. Never had she actually been inside the forest, but she'd heard the stories of the many paths, the many fiends. The many fiends! Now would be a great chance to show off your mad skills at stealing things for the party. With Rikku, they wouldn't need to stop at rest stops for those stupid potions. She could steal, like, items better than that! Score! Who's the winner now! She is, she is, she is!

Rikku was ahead of the party, not by much, which caused for hesitation whenever a fork in the road occurred. Never straying too far away from the party, in case there was a fiend ready to pounce upon young Al Bhed meat. After all, it was rumored that Al Bhed meat was the most tender. Well, no; but that's beside the point, isn't it? Now what was the town, city, thing that was after the Forest, before the Temple? Guadotsunami? No… That didn't sound right, maybe it'd be best to ask.

"Hey, you guys know when the next stop is? I forgot the name, and it's really bothering me that I don't know it." She was so cheerful sounding that it was amazing. No one answered just yet, which made Rikku a little impatient. "Come on! Someone's got to know, right?" At this point, she had stopped, pivoting on her heel and resting a hand on her hip, tilting her head to the side as she continued to wait for an answer. Was it really that hard to just tell her?

"It's called Guadosalam. It is the homeland to Lord Jyscal, and Maester Seymour," Auron had answered, giving her what looked to be some kind of death glare. Perhaps he was telling her that she needed to shut up and keep walking. Then again, there was that glint in his eye that suggested that she needed to become Chocobo food.

But, but, but, Sir Auron, Al Bhed's don't make very good Chocobo meat, they've tried, and they seemed to just get food poisoning; that would be the response that she would have given if she caught that glint in his eye. But because she didn't, she simply gave a bright grin, and nodded. "Thanks!" Then she continued down one of the bluish green tinged branches of tree that they were walking down. Except she seemed to be skipping. Most people wouldn't be seen skipping through the Macalania forests, because of how it was infested, and I mean infested, with fiends. But everything was great and happy in the land of Rikku. With pretty butterflies of red, blue green, yellow, and you get the point.

Something rustled in the bushes, which caused Rikku to completely freeze. Become alert, and totally un-Rikku like. Become cautious and watchful. Yuna gave a small gasp of fear, taking a few steps backwards as the bulky form of a Chimera stepped forward. Staring the whole group down. Yes, the whole group.

"There's no way around it, we have to fight," Wakka had stated, his eyebrows were raised, and he was holding his blitzball in the most threatening way you can imagine. He stood protectively in front of Yuna. This beast wasn't going to hurt the Summoner in training, and if it did, it'd have a taste of blitzball. At that moment it seemed that everyone had gathered around Yuna for protection. Lulu was right next to her, the small doll that she carried looked almost menacing right now. As she was picking out a spell to cast on the chimera. Tidus had out his blade, and he struck a defensive pose. The tassels hung down in a way that caught Rikku's eye. Causing her, for just a split to lose concentration and admire it.

Now Kimahri looked as if you did not want to irritate him, he looked as if he'd slash your head off with one SWOOSH! of his lance. Just the thought of it gave Rikku the chills. She could picture it. Her head on a plate with apples around the neck and a piece of lettuce resting on the hair.

"Here's your dinner, Master Ronso!" the waiter would say.

Kimahri would only nod and look gracious.

"Hey! Let me show you what /I/ can do!" Rikku added with even more of an upbeat voice. Her voice lacked seriousness, which made Auron question what her reasons for becoming a guardian.

Auron came to her side, as well as Kimahri, looks as if they didn't trust her word. Maybe she wasn't strong, but she was quicker than any of them combined. Auron took the first strike, the Chimera didn't even budge, and it didn't even look affected by the strike. Kimahri took the next shot, managing to strike it closer to one of the heads nearest them. Again, it didn't even budge. Despite the fact that significant damage was dealt.

"You don't trust that I can do anything, do you!" Rikku whined, her eyebrows raised upwards as she looked incredibly pathetic. At this time, Wakka cut in, gently pushing her back, this wasn't a time to fool around. Maybe if a weaker monster came in they'd let her fight, but now was time for real men to do the job. Of course Tidus was a man, but he was busy guarding Yuna with his life.

The blitzball flew through the air, hitting the beast in the head, it looked weaker now. Wakka took his turn again, followed by Kimahri and then Auron. But when the Chimera attacked Wakka, the arm that threw the blitzball well became injured. To an extent where he couldn't even hold his deadly weapon. This lead to a long string of cursing under his breath. Because I'm sure if anyone heard, Yevon would get him for using such horrific language. He felt like a failure. "Yuna… I'm sorry," he whispered, forcing on a smile.

"Oh Wakka! Don't be sorry! It's not your fault, here, let me take care of that," Yuna responded, her voice was tender. And by itself almost seemed to heal the wound. It reeked with healing powers, it reeked with kindness.

Okay Rikku! Take another shot at fighting off this Chimera, it's pretty close to dead, and you have a few things up your sleeve, don't you? Of course she does. She wouldn't be Rikku without something up those sleeves. "My turn, and believe me when I say I can do it!" Auron and Kimahri had given her an awkward look.

Auron looked cynical, only making a single grunt at the blond Al Bhed. Watching, almost seeming to be interested in the attempt that Rikku was going to make. Having no idea whatsoever what her strengths and weaknesses were. Then again, it wasn't like he cared about what her strengths and weaknesses were. She'd probably be gone in a matter of no time. He gave another grunt just as Rikku made her strike. Stealing an elemental gem, tucking it away for later use.

"Hey guys! Stand back if you want to live to see tomorrow! Tee-hee!" Like always, her voice was more childish and… and girly. Neither Kimahri nor Auron seemed to move an inch, and the look in Auron's eye… Oh, Rikku could've slaughtered him with that look that she was given. Suit themselves, they were going to be more injured than they wanted to be by the end of this. With a soft giggle, she pulled out a grenade and chucked it into the air, then sped off back towards the group. Unbelievable speed.

Maybe Rikku was right, maybe he should have backed off when she told him to. Auron's eye only seemed to follow the grenade that was quickly cutting through the air with grace. As it slowly started to pummel down towards the Chimera, he shot back towards the group, as well as Kimahri. The explosion was great, and they nearly escaped it.

"Wow… Rikku, I never knew that you had such skill," Tidus said, staring at the sight of the previous explosion that had a killed off Chimera.

"It's not skill! It's just having the proper items, that's it. It's nothing too hard, and then aim. You gotta' have aim! 'Cause if you miss. Then… KABOOM/You're/ the one that's raining down gross body parts and stuff."

"I never… thought of it that way, to be honest." He put away his blade calmly. With a completely different newfound respect for Rikku.

"Well, you never know, it might not go like that! Now come on! We have a temple to get to!" Jumping cheerfully into the air, she began to run in the direction towards Guadosalam, stopping as she passed by Auron. "I don't know why you didn't run when I told you to, it's like you don't trust my judgment or something. I don't know what it is, for all I know it could be Rikku-phobia, but you should trust me." Pause. Maybe you shouldn't say anything to the Legendary Guardian, after all, he has that… One mother load of a sword that could probably take off your head like a pin pops a balloon. So if you want to keep your head, you should probably leave it be. But no, Rikku just had to continue, didn't she? "I'm not a bad person, you know, and just because I'm young, blond and energetic doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing!" She was becoming hysterical.

Auron was looking amused, his eyebrows were raised. Not even bothering to say anything, just making a simple hand motion that signified for her to get walking, or continue her obnoxious rant on how she wasn't a bad person. Or what was she talking about again?

"Ugh! You're just… Just a big meanie head! I don't even know why Yunie wants you as a guardian, she must've been, like, crazy or something when she told you that you could be a guardian."

Silence, silence and more silence, but once again, no surprise is it. Auron was simply ignoring the little blond Al Bhed twerp that was hysterically speaking to him as if it was going to be the end of the world. How sad. "We take our leave."

Rikku's eyes widened, did he just… Totally ignore what she was saying? Ohhh… He was going to get it one day. Now everything just needed to wait. How much longer could this trip through the forest last? Hopefully not much longer, I mean it was… so dark in here, and not to mention damp and a little cold. No sun, either. What was someone who enjoyed the desert supposed to do without the sun?

Auron began to walk forward, leading the group, quickly followed by Wakka, with his arm feeling better, thanks to Yuna's quick healing. Maybe she should start some kind of healing agency. 'Yuna! For all your healing needs!' or maybe 'Yuna! Whenever the hospital declines your badly injured state!' Yuna was walking side by side with Wakka, and they seemed to be enjoying each other's company, smiling, and chuckling every once in a while. Rikku just stood off to the side, watching in disbelief at how Auron could just waltz on ahead as if he was the leader of this crusade towards suicide. Ooo… the nerve of that guy. Even after just meeting him, Rikku felt as if she knew him forever and that there were times that she just wanted to unscrew that head of his and kick it into some kind of river. For sure, this trip was going to be miserable with him traveling with them. Like father would say, 'Suck it up! Get through it you pansy!' Or something like that, Rikku couldn't exactly remember.

"He's frustrating, isn't he?" Tidus mused aloud when he was standing next to Rikku, waiting politely for her to start walking. Maybe Rikku would be the person that he could rant about all of Auron's problems to.

"Tell me about it, he walks around as if he's the king of the jungle, doesn't he?"

"More or less. You just have to get used to him, kind of like a cold sore. You just have to warm up to him and hope that he gets used to you and stuff."

"Psh. As if he's ever going to get used to me, I thought he was going to die when he saw that I was right about him needing to run when I threw the grenade."

"He probably was about to die," Tidus chuckled, as did Rikku.

Maybe this trip wouldn't be as bad as Rikku thought it was going to be, at least there was someone here who she could rant about how much Mr. Legendary Guardian was ticking her off. Sighing once, Rikku placed both hands behind her head, elbow out, walking at a normal pace next to Tidus. The group looked as if they'd gotten a little farther ahead, but there was no need to catch up, it's not as if they were going to die if they didn't, right? Right. Besides, they'd have to wait up for them in Guadosalam.

The rest of the trip through the forest went quite smooth, no fiends attacking them, and no one starting any bickering at all. Which Lulu was grateful for, there was no whining from Tidus. No attempting-to-be-witty comments from Wakka. Before everyone knew it, there they were at the outskirts of Guadosalam. Everyone walked ahead, though Auron, for a reason, had stood at the side. Watching carefully as everyone passed him, till Rikku passed by, when he stuck out his hand, stopping her in her spot. "Stop."

"What? What'd I do now?" she whined, taking a step back to be away from that hand of his. It was probably dripping with some kind of poison to kill her.

"Nothing, yet. I'm just warning you. You better be careful. The Guado aren't the most keen on the Al Bhed," Auron said, glancing down at her. No worry was in his eye, but Rikku could've sworn that she saw something in his eye scream: Do something wrong so that they maim you!

"And…?"

"I'm telling you to be careful, to watch yourself. Because this is where Maester Seymour currently resides, and you better watch your mouth. If you say something wrong, it's going to cause on long line of consequences."

Was he acting concerned over her? Nah, he was just saying this to make her feel young and stupid. "I might be younger than you, but believe it or not I do have a sense of respect, and responsibility," she paused, perhaps trying to think of something else to say. "But I only give my respect to those who really deserve it. And you're doing a really good job at not deserving it!"

At this point Auron thought he'd made his point, he said nothing further, and left without further word to Rikku. What a strange girl she was, what made her think that he wanted her respect. Giving a grunt, he walked off, again in that 'I'm the leader, you better listen to me' kind of way.

The nerve of that man. Rikku sighed, she wasn't going to win, never, no way she could, either. Oh, well, you might as well just live with it. Might as well enjoy Guadosalam, it'll be the last good shelter, and good meal that she'll probably have for a while. It sure was pretty though, she couldn't help but let her eyes wander around. As she began to space off, feeling slightly like a princess in some kind of fairytale, the rude and abrupt voice of Auron telling her to hurry up and get with the group.

"Come on, we don't have time to wander around, Maester Seymour awaits our arrival."

"…" No response, what were you going to say. Just comply, and run towards the entrance to the grand mansion that was probably worth a fortune. Sigh. When would Auron stop picking on her?

A/N: Hey, I know, I'm not very good at battle sequences, and I apologize for that. ..; I'm also sorry that chapter two isn't very good either. But once I get going, I promise that everything will get much better! Hopefully. And don't you just love the good healthy relationship of Auron x Rikku. I apologize if they seem out of character. But I haven't even finished the game. So no flames. Don't like my pairings, get over it. I'm not changing it. XD; And yes, I am pro-Wakka x Lulu. (: Feel free to IM me or Email me with questions.