Here it is. The ridiculously long chappie. Turned out to be fourteen pages…which is long for me…so there.
Oh, and there's a line in here that I took from an episode of Futurama! Well not exactly...but the idea is the same.
Mkay, haven't done a disclaimer in awhile. So I don't own FFX. So what? At least I'm big enough to admit it…..and not cry, for once.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rikku
Yevon! Allah! Jesus! Satan! One of you guys, help me! I can't stand it anymore. We've been walking for HOURS!!! I'm ready to cry…the next lightning bolt'll make me-
AAAAHHHHH!!!!!
"Whoa! That was a close one!" Wakka says, and laughs. Jerkwad.
"Stop kidding around." Lulu said dangerously, and sauntered past him.
"Yes ma'am…" Wakka quickly responded. BOOM, HEADSHOT! Zip for Wakka, one billion for Lulu!
I tried to move but found I couldn't. Then, a weird sound escaped my mouth.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Wakka asked, turning around to look at me.
"Eh heh heh heh heh heh heh…"
"'Eh heh heh.' You're givin' me the creeps!" Tidus said, exasperation in his voice. Everyone's studying me now…wonder what Auron's thinki-
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Okay, that's IT!
I fall on my knees and cover my ears, scared out of my wits. I stay there for a second, considering my options before I drop dead of sheer fright. Well…might as well shred the last part of my dignity and pride. It's better than dying, anyways.
I crawl fast towards Tidus, who has barely enough time to react before I throw myself on his leg, clutching it for dear life. "I wanna go home! I hate lightning! I hate thunder!" I spot something around the corner up ahead. Hey, Rin's agency is just over there! I'm saved!
"Let's go rest over there! Please?" I point feebly.
To my utter shock and anger, Dead Dude says, in that monotonous tone of his, "This storm never stops. Better to cross quickly."
No cred, Sherlock! "I know, but…just for a little while?" That meanie! He tells me he's an Unsent, trusts me with that, and then refuses to let me rest?! Cdibet...nat-luyd faynehk...eteud...sayhea..ikmo...
Tidus looks around, uncertain. "Heh, well what now?"
I hear Auron sigh. Yes! Victory! He'll let us stay!
They all begin walking, and I follow, still scared out of my mind. Towards the agency…almost there…walking…EEK!...come on, come on!...ohmygoshthereitis!
I sprint for the door and then I notice no one except for Tidus is following me. Huh? He gives me an apologetic glance, and then I see the rest of the group continuing walking. What?!
"Pretty please? Just a few minutes?" They're ignoring me? One more time...
"I'm scared of lightning! Let's rest, please? Pretty please?" Please! What would you do without me? Think about it! You know you won't survive without me! At least…I hope you know it…
"I'm too young to die!" Alright, still ignoring me, are you? Bastards! No more Miss Nice Rikku!
"You're mean...cruel! Your moms would be ashamed of you!" They're…still walking away…oh god, please, I need to stop!
"Are you having fun doing this to me?" Hey! They're back! YESSSSS!!!!!
I see Auron shake his head and sigh angrily. "Fine. We rest. She's worse than the storm." Ha! Two for Rikku, zip for Auron! Well…if you count the secret he told me…which I do, so there. His voice sounded slightly surprised, as well as frustrated. As if he didn't know I had such an annoying ability to make everyone do what I want. Well, learn fast, guardian boy, cause it's going to happen more often. Hehehe…
I enter the agency, happy as a clam. Haha, we rest! Finally, a place with no thunder and lightni-
AAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What???!!!! I can still hear it!
Well, this sucks. I cower near the doors to the rooms, shivering from my fear. Yuna excuses herself rather quickly and Tidus follows her later, though I don't tell anyone because…
I smile to myself despite the thunder. They were just SO CUTE! It was so obvious he was mad for her. And he was jealous too! His eyes were blazing in Guadosalam. He looked like he wanted to kill Seymour, and he was so incredulous as to the idea of Yuna marrying him. They make such a good couple. Yuna's shyness and resolve countered by his slight naivete and brash attitude….aww…Oh no, wait…what if Tidus doesn't end up telling her how he feels before Seymour marries her? I frown sadly. That would suck.
…Hold on…
Hehe…what if…a certain…Al Bhed…girl…helped them out…a little? I wouldn't do anything drastic…oh no. I would just…push a bit…that's all. I smirk. Operation Love Machina, Phase 1: Communicator Check. Now…how to get Tidus to tell her-
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LEMME INTO MY ROOM! NOW! I scurry next to Auron, who's talking to the clerk.
"I'm sorry sir, we only have three rooms available. We've been packed lately. My deepest regrets."
I look up at him, watching his face turn from pure annoyance to NOW-I'm-ticked-off-mode. "You're sure you can't do anything for us?" He mutters, frustration evident in his voice.
The clerk shook her head. "Once again sir, I tried as hard as I could but those are the only rooms we have left. I apologize." She bowed. Auron hmphed and walked away, looking pissed. The clerk looked at me, agitation evident in her eyes. I feel sorry for her now.
"Ed'c ymnekrd. Fa lyh cbmed ib. Puoc eh uha nuus, kenmc eh dra udran." I said, apologetically.
"E's cunno. E naymmo dneat...vun res." She sighed, and leaned on one hand as she gazed past me at Auron's red back. "Ra'c naymmo lida. E fuimt ryja megat du caa res csema yd sa, bancuhymmo." She winked at me and gave me a small smile. Suddenly, I don't feel so sorry for her anymore. Actually, I'm trying not to slap that smile off her face. I mutter something and walk off, fuming. The word I was thinking of saying was fruna.
Wait…why did I feel like that? I mean…it's not like he hasn't had his share of girls looking at him in his past life…which brings me to my next question-how old is he exactly?
I'm interrupted as someone walks by me, towards Auron, with the keys to our rooms. I almost bump into him in my mad rush to follow him to our rooms and salvation. He glances backwards with an expression I can't read, and then keeps moving. Lulu and Wakka walk behind us. Lulu is thinking, Wakka's looking around with an apprehensive expression on. What's up his a- oh, right, it's an Al Bhed agency.
So, anyways, I'm put in the room with three beds, along with Yuna and Lulu, Wakka and Tidus are in one room with two beds, and Auron gets his own with one, cause the Ronso won't sleep…for some reason. I enter the room, shivering and glancing around quickly. Yuna and Lulu put their various things in the chests and drawers the room has, and then start to get into the beds. I stand there, not wanting to move in case the lightning decides to break walls and get in here to me…
"Rikku, you were the one who wanted to come here, so shouldn't you sleep?" Lulu said, slightly edgily, in that dark voice of hers. It made me scared now…
"I…okay…" I said, uncertainly placing myself on the third bed. I remove my boots, slipping my socks off one by one. I lay my thigh pouch with all my items in it on the dresser, and then remove my claw and glove. I stand up, untie the belt around my waist and then place my goggles and the belt on the dresser too. I take off my shirt, leaving my thin tank top on underneath. Then I start undoing my hair, removing the barrette keeping my bangs out of my eyes, the ponytail on top of my head. I leave the chocobo feathers…
I stop for a moment, my hair loose about my shoulders, and hair stuff in hand.
Mom taught me how to make those.
I place my things down and finally settle in, wearing just my thin tank top and green shorts. The other two already fell asleep, I see…
I close my eyes and try to forget the thunder and flashes of lightning.
……………………………….
Running…running…in darkness…lightning strikes close by…I jump, avoiding the crash. I keep running. Where am I going…no, it doesn't matter…
Wait…who's that?
…Mom?!
It's her. She's standing there. Her gorgeous green eyes are looking at me. They're sad…and happy. Her hair is golden, like how I remember…she's absolutely stunning…
She opens her mouth and says something.. "Rikku…you've grown."
I'm crying. Crying like a little child…
"Rikku…the lightning will go away. It'll stop. One day soon."
She's changing…into…Auron?
He stands there, looking at me. His arms open, and I run forward to them. He envelops me in a hug and I stand there, unable to feel anything.
"Death hurts. Really. But the storm won't stop. It won't" He says suddenly. I feel like screaming, saying "Yes it will! My mother said so!" But again I'm alone, watching my mom fade away in the darkness. I call out to her but she doesn't hear, just keeps that beautiful smile on her face. She waves, and I'm falling…I'm dying…
MOM!!!!!
………………..
I rocket myself upwards, sitting up in bed and gasping. The sheets are soaked with sweat, and I touch my forehead quickly. It's cool, but wet. I cringe as a bolt of lightning lights up the window, followed by a crash of thunder.
I can't stay here…
I get up, slowly feeling my way to the door, and open it quietly, so as not to wake the other two. I sneak out in the corridor. COLD! I cover my arms with my hands. God, don't they have heating in here or wha-
Click. I feeze, and turn around. No way….no freaking way…
Yeah. Okay. The door locked on me.
Frantically, I press myself up against the door and knock quietly. Then again, a bit louder this time. Yunie and her SNORING!
I sigh angrily, and lean against the wall. I'm trapped. What now, Rikku?
I creep towards Tidus and Wakka's room, and hear the same silence. Though this time, the snores are louder. No opportunity there, Rikku. Moving on…
I stand in front of his room. To knock, or not to knock? I raise my hand up, but then stop. No…forget it. I'll just hang out here. I turn around and am about to walk away when I knock over a small tissue box on one of the corridor tables. I freeze, expecting someone to open their door and expose me. But then no one opens the door and I bend down to pick up the box, facing away from Auron's door. Then, as I'm getting up to put it back, I feel something sharp on my neck, threatening to slice my head off.
"Name. Purpose. Now." I hear a deep, husky voice say, not too far behind me. Auron?!
I'll kill him.
"Auron, you doofus, it's me!" I exclaimed as quietly as I could, without waking anyone else up. I feel the sharp edge move from my neck, and I breathe deeply, placing the tissue box on the table and turning to glare at him-
WHOA. That's…unexpected…
He is completely shirtless. His pants are still on, though the boots are off, and his coat and garb are on the table behind him, near his bed, which I spy through the open door. I can't keep my eyes off his chest though. Can you say…hot?! Holy cred…not even Gippal could top that…and his muscular arm is holding his huge katana, which he was obviously pressing against my neck earlier.
Oh hell…I'm staring. I move my eyes up to his face, and I see that he takes a quick once-over on me. Does he like it? I can't help but wonder…
Okay, enough.
"Auron, you jerk, what the hell was that for?!" I said, anger quite forgotten, though he didn't need to know that.
"Defense. May I ask what you think you're doing outside my room?" He asked darkly, staring straight into my eyes. Huh…weird. He rarely looks at me like that…
"I…I…" Think of something, Rikku! Come on! He's just looking at me like I'm crazy…
"I couldn't sleep…had a horrible dream…" I said, suddenly not feeling so up to talking. He looks at me, studying my face. I look down so as to avoid his scrutiny. For all I know, he might have figured out what was in my dream already.
"…So what do you want from me?" He asked, a little less darkly and a bit more curiously.
I looked up. "Nothing, really…other than the fact that…I've locked…myself out of my room….maybe…" I said, flushing. Tysh ed, why does that happen?
He sighed, and turned, walking back into his room. He stopped before the bed and looked over his shoulder. "Well…are you coming, or do you want to sleep outside?" He snapped.
I walked in slowly, and began to take in the sight of him, at his bed. His hair was ruffled slightly from sleep, and his braid hung down his extremely taut, smooth, muscular back. His muscles flexed as he lifted his katana and put it near the bed on a chair. You're staring again…
I shake my head and walk slowly to the bed, sitting down on the opposite edge. Uh…what now? Think, Rikku, think. You're in a room with the sexiest man in Spira…and don't deny it cause it's true…and there's only one bed…what to do, what to do…
I hear a cough from behind me and I get up and turn abruptly. He looked calm…as always. Calm and collected…and cool. Ultra cool.
"I'll sleep on the floor, then." He said, and was about to go to the closet to get extra pillows and blankets, when I said "No!" loudly. What the hell? I didn't want to say that.
He stops, looking at me with evident surprise. "Well…what I mean is…is that…I feel bad that I came in here…and kind of intruded your sleep…so…I don't want you to- um, I mean…you don't have to, you know...it's not an issue…I mean, it's not like…yeah." I ended my eloquent speech. Why do I sound so stupid...
He stood there, thinking, then nodded. He headed back to the bed and sat down, then settled himself on top of the sheets.
I slid myself under and tried to go to sleep. But I couldn't. The dream kept bothering me. I kept tossing and turning until I heard an exasperated grunt from next to me.
"Go to sleep. We need to leave in the morning." He sounded really pissed off.
"..Sorry…" I tried again, this time keeping the tossing to a minimum.
I…can't. Mom…she's still there…in my head. Calling out. I can't.
I get up, throwing off the sheets and sit on the edge, shaking. I feel the tears falling down my cheeks, like tiny knives. She's just…so real…I can't let her go.
I don't notice that the lights are on and Auron had gotten up and stood in front of me. I couldn't stop crying. He stands there and I sit there, crying, for god knows how long. Then he speaks.
"…Did I do something to upset you?" He thinks it's his fault?
"No! N-no…it's just…I can't keep it out of my head, Auron, I can't!" I said, suddenly feeling hysterical.
"…What?" He leans on one leg and massages the bridge of his nose delicately. He's tired. He's staying up for me. I'm such a selfish brat. I begin to cry more.
"I'm sorry, so sorry, REALLY sorry, Auron, I didn't mean to wake you up and make you give me your bed and then stay up to hear me cry, but my mother, she won't stay out of my dreams, I can't let her go, Auron, I just can't, she dies over and over again, fading, and I'm dying, running after her for the longest time, and then you're there and you're telling me that the storm won't stop and death isn't that bad, but I want to live, and I want my mom here RIGHT NOW!" I finished, and let out a sob.
He looks at me the entire time I sob, and finally just stands there, watching. Then, he sits next to me and puts his hand on my shoulder comfortingly. My heart is sent fluttering.
"Your…mother…does she die against her will in the dream?" He asks, gently.
I wipe my eyes and look up at him blurrily. "Huh?"
"Is she killed?"
I shake my head. "No…she just sort of…fades away…she's waving, actually."
He nods. "Then she's telling you to move on…"
I give a dry laugh. "She died when I was eight. Seven years ago. You'd think I would stop crying already…"
"It takes time."
"How long, Auron?" I said, suddenly furious with myself, "I'm almost sixteen! I should be able to handle it…but I'm not…" I stopped, unable to talk.
He gave my shoulder a squeeze, and after a minute, started to talk. "Ten years ago…there was a little boy. He lived with a man, a friend of his father's. The man wasn't the type to give love easily or readily…but he promised the father that he would take care of his son before he died. Then, the boy lost his mother to sickness. The man the boy lived with did not know how to handle this sadness in the boy. He was…inexperienced. But he learned, as well as the boy, that slowly, day by day, he would find the will to live on. It would take time, but the boy would heal. The hole in the heart would go away. And they waited. It took ten years for him to get over it. Ten years." He looks at me now, penetrating me with those dark, russet, dead…beautiful eyes.
"Rikku…it will take time. For some, longer, for others, shorter. How long it takes for you is not under your control. You must be patient." He says, and stands up slowly.
I look at him in awe. He…was so comforting. I never knew that Red Death could be so…warm. I get up slowly, closing the space between us as I wrap my arms round his middle. He stiffens.
"Dryhg oui..." I mutter, pressing myself against his chest. I rest my head just under his neck, and can feel hesitation in his body. Then he rests a hand on the small of my back. He's hugging you back…well, kind of…
"Oui'na famlusa." He says gruffly, but I can sense the gentleness in his voice.
I sigh against him, and take in his scent. It's nothing like how I thought…I was expecting some kind of old, musty, dead smell…but he actually smelled like a dizzying, delicious spice…and ginger…slightly. Then I begin to move away, slowly. My arms still around his fabulous torso somewhat, I cock my head and look up at him. I wonder...
"Auron…you feel emotions, right? Like…you can be happy sometimes, right?" I ask.
He looks down at me, looking slightly amused. "Yes, Rikku, I can feel emotions."
I grin, foolishly. "Well, why doncha smile more around me, then? It would look nice on you. You know, you're not as scary as you make yourself out to be."
He raises an eyebrow, and suddenly his voice sounds dark. "Oh, really? Am I, now?"
I move away quickly. "Heh heh….but we can work on that." I shake my head, hair falling loose and bangs in my eyes. "Ugh…well, gotta sleep…g'night Auron."
"Good night, Rikku."
We both return to bed, on separate sides as before. Though this time, I reach over and take his hand in mine. Oh…I'm bold…
"…Rikku…" He says, hinting like it was a bit much.
"Please, Auron. I feel better." I said. Where was all this coming from?
He sighs. "Very well."
And that night, I sleep without the fear of thunder.
The next morning, I woke up and found that my hand was clutching air. He left. I sat up quickly, freaked out. How long have I been sleeping?!
In five minutes I'm out, brushing my teeth and putting on my clothes at the same time. I rush down the hallway to the main lobby, and see that everyone already congregated in the center.
"HUFF….HUFF…sorry, guys…HUFF…HUFF…over…slept….HUFF…"
AHHHHHH!!!!!!! Oh come on!!!
"It's not stopping, is it?" I ask meekly, cringing again.
"Don't tell me you were hoping it would." Auron says suddenly, sounding very mean indeed. Who got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, eh? I wanted to ask, but I didn't.
AHH!!! I don't want to go out again…
"Fine. Stay here." And he just WALKS out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After last night…after the comfort…alright, you aren't getting out so easily, mister.
"All right, already. But! You didn't have to say it like that, you know! You could be more comforting or something! You know, try to cheer me up? You just don't get me at all, do you? Hey! Are you listening?" What's that? Thunder? I think not. "I'm not scared! I'm not scared, you hear?" I scream.
I run out after him, and as I'm chasing his big red coat down, I can't help but smile.
He gave me a hug.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Al Bhed Translations:
Stupid…red-coat wearing…idiot…meanie…ugly…
It's alright. We can split up. Boys in one room, girls in the other.
I'm sorry. I really tried...for him. He's really cute. I would have liked to see him smile at me, personally.
Whore
Thank you
You're welcome
Alright, hope you guys are happy! And-
Oh no…I forgot…now Auron's P.O.V. has to be as long! Gah…what I do for you all…
The least you can do is review. "
-SV