Chapter 3: Closer

Summery: Auron and Rikku continue with their travels to reunite with the others, and along the way, the two run into more trouble with the beast of the small forest. But they soon find a way out of the woods and into each other's heart…...

He was kind. He was generous. He had even offered to gather the food that Rikku really wanted. She didn't understand why the man was become so…. So…. Nice? In fact, he even offered to do something that no one even cared to do for the girl at all!

"You ready?" Auron helped Rikku climb onto his back and then the man proceeded to walk with her hanging on him like a little monkey! Luckily, she was back up to 779HP, but Rikku was the one who became quite embarrassed, by that fact that she couldn't keep her strength up enough to hang on and not start slipping, and Auron was obligated to hold her up by placing his hands in a cupping form so the girl could have a seat. This is the worst! This guy's a total jerk and now he's feeling my ass up! She got even more uncomfortable when Auron shifted his left hand so it wouldn't get as badly numb.

"HEY!" Rikku's face was beet red and she could hardly keep from smiling as she was screaming at the man, who was basically ignoring her. "What do you think you're doing, you pervert? Trying to feel me up! You'd better stop it now, because I'm telling you, my old man will knock the shit out of you! HEY, AURON! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME!"

"…..Not really." He said quietly. He was possibly deaf now, after all that yelling in his ear, and he still didn't cringe as the girl continued her stupid rant.

"I swear, all you men are the same! You think that you can just woe a girl into wanting to sleep with ya, and when that doesn't work, you go and molest them! You'd try and gang bang me with that nasty Wakka and Tidus if you had the chance, wouldn't you!" Auron simply rolled his eyes at her and sighed as he did the night before; it was light, eased, no longer burdened with an anger or annoyance. It was strange to Rikku, and it actually made her stop talking for a second. Rikku's silence helped her to listen to Auron's breaths. They were deep and calm and his body under the coat was warm and the form was strong.

"….Something wrong with you?" Auron noticed the lapse in Rikku's ranting and decided to check and see if she was still conscious or not. He turned his head and saw that she was leaning against his back very hard, trying to listen to his lungs take in the air better. Auron stopped walking and held his breath. A few seconds later, Rikku freaked out.

"Auron! What's the matter with you! Quick, quick! Breathe, stupid, breathe!" She pounded weakly on the man's back. You'd think that her strength had waned by now, but it was just enough to cause Auron to gasp and cough until his lungs were filled and emptied again. He accidentally "dropped" the girl on the ground and she howled loudly. "Oow! That hurt…a lot."

" ….Sorry. It was an accident." he said uncaringly, but surprisingly, Rikku did say anything against it. Auron extended his hand and helped Rikku get to her feet,--er, sort of. The girl could only stand for a few moments, then she landed right into the older man's strong arms. She neither blinked nor looked up at him when this happened….because her face was redder than ever and she could wipe the stupid grin off of her face. "What's the matter?" Auron didn't really care just what was the matter with Rikku, but it was annoying, and he wanted her to quit….now. She wasn't smiling anymore, but was completely lost in emotion, staring into the man's dark eyes.

…..Oh, crap! I don't think that I can take this…..I should really stop thinking about stuff like that….

"You know, a real gentleman, unlike you, would've tried to at least get on one knee and kiss my hand! That's right! My lousy old, good-for nothing pop used to do that all the time for my mom, and I don't know anyone else who would do that! I guess all men are pigs after all!" To her great surprise, Auron dropped gracefully to one knee, without a groan or growl, and took each of the girl's hands and kissed the palms and backs of them. Then he had to hold her up against him again, because she was about to lose balance again.

…..OH, CHRIST!

Auron stood back to his feet and stared at the girl. He didn't understand why he did such a thing himself. It was strange, but he was satisfied that it finally shut the girl up!

Suddenly, Auron turned his head toward the forest. He released her and she dropped to the ground. Rikku was about to scream her head off again, but then she saw the sword taken from his side. He removed his free arm from the coat's shoulder and readied for a fight. "Rikku! Go, behind the brush!"

"But what about you!"

"JUST GO!" the man shouted and Rikku obeyed. A large group of adult Behemoths stomped out of the lush forest toward Auron. They stared down at the man and then rose its sword to strike. "HA! You're nothing but worms compared to me. Not even a challenge." The leader of the herd rushed forward and tried to slash Auron, but didn't even get the chance to roar. Auron's sword slashed through it's mouth and then continued to draw his sword through the rest of it's body as it fell to the ground after missing the man. It's entire upper half fell to Auron's right and the other half to his right.

The other Behemoths were enraged and some of them went and tried their hand to kill the guardian. As for the other few, they managed to find Rikku and went to the poor girl as quickly as possible. She managed to crawl from most of their stomping over closer to where Auron was fighting, but one of them smacked her left arm with it's spiked tail, causing a strong poison effect on her, taking up to115HP from her with every move. Worse, she was now under Confuse and was unable to make her way to Auron as well as she could without the spells.

"…Ah…Auron! Help!" She called out, not knowing what to do with herself and desperately trying to keep from losing her sanity then. Auron looked away from his last kill and saw that Rikku was being attacked. He found a sudden obligation and leapt over to killed one of the monsters that were looming over her.

"…..Cowards! Attacking an innocent woman while injured. You will get no mercy from me." He muttered low enough so Rikku couldn't hear him, but the girl was too busy trying to focus and find more bombs to combine. She managed to save up the bombs from the behemoth she had killed and combined them into a 3:8:2 ratio and looked to Auron-- or, at least she tried to, when she was staring at the grass underneath her.

"Auron! Please don't get caught! Watch….watch out!"

"What!" Auron looked back just as Rikku tried to throw the second Mustard Bomb in the air, but the item rolled on the ground and exploded. The behemoths were all sucked down into the earth for as far as the bomb had damaged, each roaring with either anger or despair. Auron didn't really have a grip on the situation, until he once again used his sword as a lever so he and Rikku wouldn't get sucked into the hole as well. But he noticed that she wasn't as well as she had been before.

She was completely red and stars were spinning around her little head, along with some chocobo chicklets. Then she lost another 38HP, throwing her down to only 12HP. Auron's eyes grew slightly wider before he casted Esuna on the both of them. He had gotten poisoned as well, but the damage wasn't as severe as hers. And, for some odd reason, Esuna did cure the Confuse placed on Rikku……

"Let's see….. Rikku wanted us to go this way, right?" Auron was trying to figure out which way to go, since Rikku was out of it. She could barely make sense when she wasn't confuse, but now it was like talking to a baby! She could just slightly understand what he was saying, but it wasn't enough for her ability to navigate was out of whack as well. So….

Auron was pretty much lost…. And then he came up with an idea-- Well, it was more of a calculated risk than an idea. He looked up at Rikku and growled. She was almost half-dead. Whatever the Behemoth she fought the other day did to her had nothing on what had just happened not long ago. "Rikku… Point out which way we shouldn't go!" Rikku rose her head and tried to concentrate. Everything was whirling around and she wasn't really able to get her bearings correct.

So, she took a wild guess, and pointed in the opposite direction she happened to point out earlier.

"Good, then we'll go this way!" Auron decided, and began walking west, the original direction. And this method was used many, many times as he travel with the girl on her back. Whenever he couldn't tell if he was going the right way or not, he would simply ask the girl and she would point one way, and he would travel the opposite.

And the method actually worked!

It wasn't long before he saw something he hadn't see in years--10 years in fact. It was the shortcut trail that he, Jecht, and Braska had come across together long ago, and it lead to the Calm Lands! Auron could have smiled at this…. But long-overdue excitement was ended by Rikku's loss of breath. In fact, she wasn't breathing at all! Auron looked around at the situation and tried to decide: Should he continue on his journey and hope that Rikku could make it, since it was only another's day walk, or should he stop and try and resuscitate the girl before she stopped breathing permanently? Either way, he was losing something he had to have, that he truly needed--

It was either the choice of time…or Rikku's life.

Auron dropped her to the ground carefully and then removed his coat. He raised her head up and opened her mouth, preparing to perform CPR…..if he knew how!

"…..SHIT!" He couldn't help but say. He'd seen people do this millions times in Zanarkind, but now, he couldn't recall how to do a damn thing! Then he remembered! He had to pushing her chest to help her breathe. He was afraid…. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to revive her, he was afraid that he would be blamed for the death of the Al Behd, of a young girl who was just trying save her relative that she loved so much…. He was afraid of….

…of losing her.

He pressed on her chest even harder, trying to get her lungs to work, and even began blowing air into her mouth in hopes that he would be able to save her. He continued to do this until Rikku began gagging and coughing, rolling to her side and grasping her right side tightly. Her eyes opened quickly and she looked up at the man while still rolled on her left side. "……Ow. That hurt…Auron." She spoke in a raspy voice and smiled at the man. He was knelt right in the view of the sun and all Rikku was see was his body's deep outline in the light…..

But he was smiling as well….

Rikku was resting near the campfire, as was Auron. He was sitting very close to the fire and watching Rikku sleep. And he was annoyed greatly by the girl. All she did was cause trouble to come around as if it was invited to a damn birthday party and got drunk and started fights and shit! (namely the Behemoth herd that attacked them) But then there was the other side to the story….

He could've let her die, and made it to the Calm Lands by himself, saying that he never even saw her that day when the fell off of the airship. But….he didn't want her to die. He didn't want to lose her….. And he knew that no one in there group would've cared, expect for maybe Tidus--Even Wakka perhaps. But other than that, only the Al Behd would've taken the time to visit her grave.

I hate you….and I cant stand having you anywhere near me….. All you do is annoy the hell out of me, and I cant stand how you take things so lightly…. And the worst part is…

You're always in my mind….

Ever since I met you, you've been nothing but a nuisance and always taking risks in order to get what you want…. And I've always taken you into consideration as something great…. Even though I can't fucking stand you….

You never take in the considerations of what you might do to others when youre not careful…. And yet, I cant stop thinking of you, no matter what I do…..

"Mhn!" Rikku sat up in a hurry and looked around. It was night, to her surprise, and then there was Auron…who was just staring….and staring….and staring… And that pretty much made the girl very uncomfortable. He usually had his back to someone or wasn't really staring at anything but the ground. But he was staring….at her. And that was really freaky!

"………."

"………"

"………"

"…… What are you staring at!" The girl screamed and Auron woke up from his half-daydream. He glared at Rikku and then turned to the fire.

"I was worried…." He spoke honestly to her, well, almost honestly. He was more worried about what was going on with himself and Rikku to simply be concerned with what's ailing her body. Rikku quirked an eyebrow, trying to imitate her brother.

"Worried? You never seem worried about anything!" Auron growled quietly, and Rikku wanted to jump.

"Just like you…." That was what made the girl angry.

"What's that supposed to mean!" Auron didn't bother looking over at her again, and sighed.

"All you ever do is cause trouble Rikku. Maybe we were better off not knowing a jinx. Ever since we became involved with the Al Behd….. And that father of yours. He seems just as crazy as you."

"That's cause he married my mom! She was the nuttiest chick you could ever meet!" Auron scoffed at such a comment.

"Make her second." Rikku tried to glare the same way Auron usually did, but she looked like she was pouting, and worse, it was cute. Auron just happened to catch the girl doing this and smirked wickedly. "You're gonna have to do better than that if you're going to try and be me. It would also help if you didn't dress like a little kid all the time."

"I do not dress like a little kid!" That was the start of another of Rikku's rants. "I happen to be the best dressed woman of Home! In fact, I'm also the smartest there is when it comes to Machina! Of course, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you jerk!" She continued on with the rant for a good fifteen minutes. While Auron was left to sit and listen to the entire thing, anger rising with every syllable. Finally, he was at his last straw and was ready to blow.

"RIKKU, SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GO TO SLEEP!" Rikku's eyes were as huge as a blitz ball stadium's field lights and she dropped her head in silence. Auron sighed deeply and felt that he could now relax….. He listened to the fire's crackling and watched as the tiny lights of the ember flew high into the sky. A few minutes of silence later, he noticed that something was amiss. He looked over at Rikku. She was still staring down at her hands after Auron yelled at her, and the man was starting to feel a bit guilty for what he did. She didn't move or anything, and she wasn't in a daze or daydream like he usually was. "…..What is the matter with you? Say something!" Rikku looked up, confused.

"What?"

"Why aren't you saying anything? You're usually talking you're head off, so what's happened!" She blinked at him a few times and then replied,

"You told me to shut up." Auron had the face of annoyance plastered on and he felt like smacking himself in the damned face for expecting anything less from someone who takes things so literally.

"I am sorry. I am…a bit stressed from these past few days….."

"I can see from the grey hair!" Auron looked up at Rikku and she points to her own hair. "It looks like a few were added in! Hee, hee, hee…." he could hear a slightly shiver in her laugh. And so, Auron got up and knelt down next to her and removed his coat, and gently wrapped it around the girl. Rikku's face was red again. She couldn't help but stare up into the older man's deep eyes with her own two green swirls. Then, he moved back to his spot and rested there, staring at the fire once again. Without his coat on, Rikku could see the muscle and tight skin that made Auron strong and as tough as a brick…..much like his being stubborn. He also looked more human now, no longer shrouded by the coat's large collar. And it was apparent that those blue-lens glasses were actually necessary to his vision.

Auron was focusing on the embers that were flying freely from the flame, focusing on not paying attention to the young Al Behd who was staring at him now. But…. He lost his concentration after a few moments and had to break his silence.

"Is there a problem?"

"OH!" Rikku didn't even realize that she was watching the man when he spoke and blushed again. "I-I'm sorry! I've just never really got to see you without your coat off before…."

"Hmph! Hypocrite!" He couldn't help but joke, but the words came out harsh and uncaring, as if he were angered that she wouldn't stop admiring him, which wasn't true at all! He didn't mind her staring at him, as long as she didn't develop anything permanent, such as feelings for him. The poor girl was wide-eyed and trying to think of some way to explain herself, when Auron, who had had enough of toying with her, got up and snatched his coat from her. "I think you're warm enough." He said coldly and gave a growl to reveal that he was serious. "If you want to stay warm, then I suggest that you get closer to the fire. We leave in the morning for the Calm Lands. We're half-way there…."

And then, he went to sleep. Rikku didn't take much time to curl up near the fire and fall asleep herself.

The next day was most likely the final day of their traveling together. Auron was being impatient, as always, and Rikku was being annoying (to him, anyway) as always. The day was clear and they were on the safe path that Auron, Braska, and Jecht had taken ten years ago. He was actually trying to think back to those days. How he and his friends were always talking about their futures together and how they would all be crabby old men picking on young women. And then Braska would get angry at Jecht for calling Yuna a future hottie and Auron would have to keep the peace or else they would lose trace of time!

Times were good back then…..

And now, he was traveling with a fifteen year old Al Behd…. Who was doing nothing but asking him questions….

"Auron?" That was about the twenty-seventh time he heard his name spoken in an hour.

"What Rikku?" His voice was dull, and Rikku could help but giggle.

"Whoa! I'm really getting to you today, huh? Sorry, but I have to know a lot more. You've….inspired me!" Auron stopped and didn't bother to face the girl.

"And how have I inspired you Rikku?" He was actually curious about this. The girl was quick to answer and very delighted with her resolve.

"You shown me what I need to be in order to become Yunie's guardian. She needs someone to help push her and provide support whenever she needs me! Yep, I'm going to stay her guardian and protect her….and save her from the end!….I promise myself this." Auron glanced at Rikku from the corner of his eye and grinned briefly.

"That's good to hear….."

"And what about you!" Another question, and another headache. Rikku held her arms behind her back and stared up at the man, smiling. "I figured out what's going on with you!"

"……And what's that Rikku?"

Auron had actually been wondering that himself. Maybe it was from falling so far and hitting his head on the ground at sometime, or maybe it was those berries that Rikku had picked out--He was pretty sure that they'd made him hallucinate for a short time. But for those few days, his entire personality was changing. He wasn't as pained, as guilt-ridden, as much of a angered, volatile old man as he had been most of the ten years. He was actually enjoying himself as he was traveling with Rikku, something that he hadn't done for a long time. For some strange reason, Auron was feeling as if he were still alive--er, per say.

"You like somebody, don't you!" Auron stopped suddenly and eyes grew wide. Rikku stared laughing, finally finding that she was right about Auron. She could never pick out one thing about him that was ever right, and now she found something that was true about him. Rikku had suspected that Auron did have feelings for someone from a long time ago, but she could never figure it out. And now, it was very clear that the man was secretly in love with someone!

But who?…..

"Is it Yunie?"

"No."

"How about Lulu? She's pretty!"

"No…."

"How about….Shelinda! She's so cute!"

"No…." This was another attempt of Rikku's to try and figure out Auron, and it was failing miserably….and annoying the man. It was a persistence that he had no choice but to tolerate. After all, he was actually starting to feel a fondness towards the girl, an attachment that he hadn't felt in years. Not even Braska or Jecht could do. He could withstand her company better than anyone he'd ever dealt with, and it was unusual for him to be this way with anyone.

Could it be that….

"Wakka?"

"…No--Wait. Did you say Wakka?" She nodded happily, know that it would caught him off guard immediately to hear something stupid. "Why would you--"

"Or maybe you like Tidus?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Auron said in a calm voice. He was laughing on the inside as she jokingly kept naming everyone she knew.

"How about Kimari? He's a cutie!"

"I don't think so…."

"….Well, what about that one guy that looked like you? He was wearing red too, but he was younger, and had long, black hair and red eyes, and he was traveling with a blonde guy and this really loud man that smoked a lot." Auron didn't know who she was talking about at that point and just gave up on answering back. That's when Rikku said five simple words.

"Then maybe, you like me!" As she giggled at the suggestion, Auron gasped quietly, making sure that she didn't hear. But the man nearly tripped over his own feet and lost balance, which she noticed.

"N-Never say that again!" Rikku stared at Auron after his threatening words and then grinned evilly.

"I'm right, aren't I? You do like me don't you?" She teased and the man stopped quickly. Rikku just happened to stop, when he grasped her by the arm and pulled her close to his face, staring deeply into her eyes, and then….

Gave a gently, tender kiss on her lips. It only lasted for a short time, and then he released her and continued walking. Rikku was pretty much stunned for a few minutes, but when she was able to move again, she quickly ran to cut off Auron's path and stared into his eyes again, this time wanting something more, no longer blushing or wearing a goofy smile on her cute face.

"Kiss me again…." she tried to order him to do, but it sound more like a weak plea, but the plea was granted. Auron grabbed the girl by the waist, dropping his sword, and his guard at the same time, and allow himself to feel something he never thought could happen. He was quick to close his eyes and brace for the kiss, but he was slow to get to it, hesitating a little, but Rikku helped out in this and stood on her toes so she could reach up with her own mouth to press against his. His other arms slid around her waist while the first hand came to caress the back of her neck and head, pulling her closer to him and pressing their bodies together even more. Rikku's arms were around his neck and, to Auron's surprise, she knew exactly how to kiss a man.

After a while of doing this, he let go of her, staring the girl over with his dark eyes, then continued walking. "We need to hurry Rikku. Let's go."

"…I knew it! You do like me!" She shouted after the man, who growled fiercely, and she quickly followed after him.

a

To be continued…..

Embrace me my angel,

who's eyes enlightens my world.

Let me feel your golden hair,

so soft so beautiful.

Take my hand and follow me,

to the realms of silence.

Let the ligth of all lights devour us.

Spread out your wings,

and take me to this paradise.

Spread out your wings and let us fly...

A/N:

Sorry. I really like that song, and thought it would be cute to add in the end, you know? It's Arcana: Angel of sorrow... ANyway, Chapter 4 will be coming up soon, so don't worry none!