We had a big ice storm this weekend. I still tried to drive into work. Did good too, until I was almost there. I crashed my car into a pole. I was more upset about the guy behind me who didn't even bother to see if I was okay then hitting it. One good thing about that though, the pole saved my car from going into the field. Best part of it though, even though I slammed into the pole, there was only minor paint damage done to my car! I love my Probe! XD
You know, I wish my muse would work this well with my other stories. I'm not even trying and I'm writing a chapter a day almost. Maybe because this is something different for me. -shrugs- Who knows.
Anyway, borderline M, but only because of one scene. But I expected that eventually.
--
"Auron! Glad to see you didn't oversleep again."
"Kinoc, that was five years ago, and it only happened once. You would think you would let it die by now."
Kinoc laughed as he slung one arm over his friend's shoulders. "I would, but I have so little to hold above you. It's like you're perfect. Speaking of which... The high priest said he wanted to see you."
"Then I best not keep him waiting." Auron responded as he walked off letting Kinoc's hand to slid off.
As soon as he was gone, Kinoc went and put the second part of his plan into action. He had to get in contact with lord Seymour. He had recognized the girl he had talked to yesterday, and hoped that by telling Seymour where she was he might gain an extra reward. Perhaps a night alone with the girl? He knew how well she pleased her master, and he wanted that same pleasure for himself.
Making sure he would not overheard, he sent the message out on the temple's communication sphere. He called Seymour's mansion in Guadosalam, but was put in contact with a man named Tromell instead of the master.
"Who are you? I demand to talk to lord Seymour."
"I'm dreadfully sorry sir. The master is not home at this time. He had an errand to do. He won't be back for at least a week I'm afraid."
"A week?" Kinoc slammed the sphere off. He couldn't wait a week. He had to tell him now. It may be too late in a week. The spell Seymour placed on her was already beginning to wear off. When he looked into her eyes he could see flashes of green trying to break through.
Ignoring the stares he received as he stormed through the temple, Kinoc headed to his room. He had to talk to Seymour soon. Perhaps he should not have hung up on Tromell so rudely, he could have asked the old geezer where the master was. Too late to worry about that now.
Instead he picked up a folder from his desk and analyzed the contents inside. If he could only get the high priest to approve this, then eventually he would be able to overthrow the old man. He was sure Yevon would bless him for the efforts.
--
Rikku woke up much later then she planned. Auron was already gone and she hadn't even started anything. The man's words from the day before stuck with her as she jumped up and began to work. She should have known that she was still just a slave. Escaping from Seymour was not the end, it was simply a new beginning.
But at least he was not forceful like her old master. At least not yet. She hoped that by pleasing him, she would avoid that. So she began cleaning again. Last night had been the kitchen. Today was going to be the bedroom and bathroom. When she opened the bathroom door, she was shocked at all the mildew caked to the walls. How could that man live like that? She supposed it was the result of too much work and no energy to keep it tidy. Maybe that was another reason why he accepted her. Well she was not going to disappoint.
It took her an hour, but she finally had the bedroom looking nice. Auron was going to be so happy when he came home. She winced as she thought about having to do the bathroom now. But once she got started. It wouldn't seem so bad.
She started with the tub and getting rid of the water ring at the bottom. Just the thought that he sat in this thing naked sent a chill down her spine. She shouldn't be thinking of him like that. He didn't think of her in the same manner, did he?
She bit her bottom lip as she worked. She had to keep her mind on the task at hand or else she would never get done. Rikku didn't understand why she was feeling these emotions. She never thought about Seymour like this. Thinking of him helped control some of her wayward thoughts.
The tub was done before she knew it and she moved onto the sink and mirror above it. She hummed a little tune in her head as she worked swaying her hips in small circles. She sprayed the mirror and used a towel to wipe the cleanser off before stepping back and admiring her work. It looked good she decided. However, something in the glass caught her eye. It was a flash of blue.
Rikku moved closer attempting to see it again. It wasn't there. Perhaps her fear had imagined it. Shrugging, she turned around dropping the rag in her hand.
"Hello, Rikku." Seymour was standing behind her now.
Panicked, Rikku tried to run past him out the door. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to himself.
"Why are you hiding from me? Together we can heal the land. I need you." He whispered into her ear as his hand ran down the front of her body.
Rikku shook as he touched her. His hand now reaching under the shirt she wore. She closed her eyes hoping this was all a dream.
"Come home to me, Rikku." His hand slowly pulled down one edge of her shirt showing the tan skin under it. His lips traveled the flesh as he turned her around facing him and his lips covered hers. He tilted her head back to get at the front of her neck and chest as trails of tears ran down her cheeks.
"Come back, and I will cure you. I will remove the curse you are under. I forgive you for running away, but you have to come to me."
His hands moved lower and Rikku noticed at how gentle he seemed to be. He was not ripping at her clothing or biting at her skin like before. Her shirt was pulled lower off of her as he took one breast in his mouth. She wanted to moan in pleasure, this was a new experience for her. And that scared her even more then when he forced himself on her.
"You like that, don't you?" His lips were once again trailing up her neck and shoulders. He smiled as she nodded. Unable to hold back any more, he removed the skirt she wore and lowered her to the floor. "Good, that means I have you where I want you to be."
Rikku knew what that meant. As his legs held her in place, he began stripping of the garment he wore. She tried to wriggle free, but he was stronger and used his hands to hold her body next to his.
She no longer enjoyed this. Her breath came in rapid gulps as she tried harder to free herself from his grip. This only served to make him more aroused. Seymour loved it when she fought. It was a fun game he played with her, and he always won.
He picked her off from the floor and threw her against the wall before pinning her there. He grinned at the fear on her face, it gave him a sense of power. Her hand reached out to push him away, but he smacked it aside making it slam into the reflective surface of the mirror. Blood ran down her arm as the glass shattered and fell to the floor.
More blood began running as his fingers began clawing at her sides. He reached one hand and lifted her leg to wrap it around himself and she felt pressure as he entered more then just her mind. More tears streamed down and she wanted to call out for release from the pain. Instead he covered her mouth with his own once again.
Together he dropped them to the floor and he proceeded to ravish her body with his own. Blood from her hand and sides stained the ground under them.
--
"Lu, do you think Rikku is alright now? I wonder how she is doing with Sir Auron."
"I'm sure she's fine. He may seem rough, but deep down he can be very protective. Auron just hides his pain behind a well placed wall." She answered.
"I guess you're right and all. But was it really the right thing? Tidus said he never told him her name. Said he wanted him to figure it out on his own."
"Yes, he told me that too. It would seem as if Auron had known her before, but not anymore. Has anyone even thought to tell Cid about any of this?"
Wakka scratched the back of his head. "I don't know, ya. She didn't want him to know from what I hear. At least not until she can tell him herself."
"Tidus tell you that?" Lulu stood from the pot she was stirring and faced him. "I wonder about him sometimes. He was the one who single handedly defeated Seymour in combat, yet he feels as if Auron would make the better protector."
"Maybe he has some plan?" Wakka suggested. "After all, we all know Auron needs to get laid."
"Wakka! You take that back!" Fury shown in her eyes as they leveled on her husband. That was downright cruel of him to say.
"Ah, sorry, Lu. I didn't mean it like that, ya?"
Lulu glared at him once more before leaving the hut. Suddenly she wasn't very hungry anymore.
--
Auron returned home late in the evening. He checked the pocket of his coat for the vial he had hidden there. He was still worried about what the priest wanted to talk to him about. He knew his daughter was interested in him, but marriage? He wasn't ready for that. Plus there was the matter of the girl that was now living with him.
He knew there was something about her he should know, but what was it? He felt a strange connection with her. But how he could, was unknown to him. He still didn't even know her name. Perhaps after she drank some of the holy water her brought home, she would be able to tell him.
As soon as he opened the door, he could feel something was not right. All the lights were off except for the small shaft coming from beyond his bedroom. He stepped into the darkened room and lay his coat on the bed before moving over to the door and knocking.
"Is everything alright?" He questioned.
Rikku heard his voice and almost dropped the shard of glass in her hand. She caught it, but not before slicing a new cut in the palm. Everything was blurry as she had trouble seeing through her tears. Seymour had left her over an hour ago, but the effects he left lingered on.
Auron tried to open the door himself, but found it locked from inside. Without breaking it down, he would not be getting it. He raised his fist and began banging on the door. "Open up! I'll break the door if you don't open it now!" He threatened through the wood.
Her lip trembled as she pictured him doing just that. It was his door, he didn't care if it was broken or not. She hid the shards of glass behind her as she slowly unlocked the door with a very audible click. She refused to meet his eyes as she stood in the doorway.
"What is going on? Why are you locking me out of me own bathroom?" He grabbed her shoulder as he tried to look past her into the room. He noticed the mirror was no longer hanging on the wall and red stains coated the inside of his sink. He looked back down to her and saw she kept her head down. "Look at me." He said softly. She did so, but only with some effort. He could see the light reflecting on the wetness of her face. "Open your eyes." He gasped as soon as he saw them. They were no longer the brown he was used to seeing on her. Now they were changed into a dark shade of green. And were those...spirals he saw?
The only people he knew that had spirals were Al Bhed. He stepped away from her before remembering the vial in his coat. Making it appear as if that was the reason for his retreat, he reached into the inside pocket. He pulled the vial out and thrust it in her direction.
"Drink half of this." He demanded.
Without waiting for him to say more, Rikku dropped the shard in her hand to the floor and did just as he said. She cringed at the foul taste, but Kinoc's words to her reminded her that Auron was her new master. She had to do as he said.
When she had downed half, he took it from her and tilted her head so he could pour the rest on the choker. A hissing sound filled the air between them as the holy water dissolved the cursed material of the item. It hurt, but Rikku managed not to make any sound as she watched it fall to the ground in front of her.
Auron looked around her as he too watched the choker fall, but he was not staring at that. He was staring at the mirror piece behind her. Two edges of it covered in blood. Her blood. Rikku saw what his gaze had settled on and quickly stepped back to hide the glass by standing on it. She winced as the sharp edge now cut the sole of her foot.
"What...?" Auron tried to ask before she said something.
"Sorry. I'm so sorry." She cried before falling to the floor unconscious.
--
Blue eyes fluttered open as air was expelled. Seymour felt the release to his body as he came out of the trance. He gave a nasally sounding chuckle as he thought about how Rikku almost began enjoying herself. Even if he did like that, he liked her fighting spirit better. It made the conquest much more fun. A moan of satisfaction almost escaped before his communication sphere stopped it.
He growled as he rolled over and turned it on. "This had better be good." He warned the other person.
"Trust me. I have very good news."
Kinoc. The man annoyed him to no end, but he did hold a lot of power in Bevelle. "And that is?" He asked leading him on.
"I know where you can find the girl."
Seymour's posture straitened even more then it was before. He half closed his eyes as he thought about what this could mean. "And where, pray tell, would that be?" He was tired of wasting time. Enough had gone by as it was.
"She is staying in Bevelle. It seems as if Sir Auron has taken a liking to her."
If what Kinoc said was true, it would prove harder then originally planned. Bevelle was hard enough to get around in without drawing attention, but to be staying with the man who was up for the position of the next high priest would make it even harder.
"Sir, what would you like me to do?"
"Proceed as normal with the plan. I will retrieve her myself. After I am finished, Bevelle will be begging us to save her. And I will be there with open arms." He turned off the sphere before laughing to himself.
--
"Yuna, what are you doing?" Tidus watched as Yuna was moving around the small hut in preparation for something. He wasn't even sure if she knew what she was doing.
"I'm not sure." Well, he was right about that. "But I'm going to enter the trials."
Tidus jumped from his spot on the floor. "You're going to do what?!" He shouted in shock.
Yuna remained as calm as ever. His outburst was expected. "I'm going to the trials." She repeated. "I think I may find some answers there that may help. You said Seymour summoned some huge creature when you fought him. I'm going to try and find out what it was by entering the room of the fayth."
Tidus took a deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing. "Then I'm going with you. It could be dangerous and you might need someone to protect you."
Yuna smiled as she stopped moving and gazed at him. He stood tall and proud, just like a warrior. She kissed him once lightly, before stepping back. "Thank you."
After making sure they had everything they would need, they walked to the village temple hand in hand. Tidus could feel as her hand shook in nervousness and he gave it a slight squeeze to let her know it would be alright. Truth was, they didn't know what to expect. No one had ever entered the trials and came out alive except for the priests. And they never told anyone what was found inside.
When they reached the doors of the temple, Yuna bowed slightly in respect. They entered in and found it full of people. Yuna wondered how they were going to get past them all. The answer was soon shown to them. No one even looked up as they entered. However, the door to the trails was at the back wall. Surely they would draw attention as soon as they climbed the stairs.
The couple nodded to one another both in agreement that they would try no matter what. They headed straight back and began climbing the stairs. The priest at the bottom didn't even give them a second glance. Tidus knew it was odd and stopped to wave his hand in front of the man's face. He didn't even flinch.
"It seems they can't see us." He noted.
Yuna giggled lightly. "I don't understand. But I'm not going to argue either. Let's hurry before whatever it is wears off."
He nodded once in agreement and they entered the trials. Only when the doors slammed closed behind them did anyone notice they had even opened to begin with.
"Well, what now?" Tidus asked as he scratched his head in thought. They were now in an empty room surrounded on all sides by walls.
"I'm not sure." She reached out and jumped back as one of the walls slid back. "I guess we go this way."
They experimented as they worked their way through the trails. Sometimes they reached a dead end, other times the way was opened by accident. The trail stopped when they reached a wall of light.
"Looks like this is the end." Yuna said dejected.
"Maybe not." Tidus tried to encourage. "Maybe this is like the first wall, you have to touch it." He reached his hand out and watched as the light grew brighter before disappearing completely. "Looks like this is the way down."
They stepped on the platform and Yuna laughed as he fell once it moved. They rode to the bottom and gasped at the sight that greeted them.
"What is this?" Yuna asked as Tidus shrugged. She took several steps closer to the stairs and and almost turned back as the door in front of her opened by itself.
"You go ahead. If you need me, I'll be right here."
Yuna gulped as she entered the doorway. She closed her eyes and opened them a moment later. In front of her stood a transparent woman.
"Greetings, my lady. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have been waiting a long time, you know."
"You have been waiting...for me?"
"Yes. I knew you would come some day. That was why I had to hide your entrance."
"That was you? But why me?"
"The great evil is about to be reawakened. We know you have the power to stop it. With your friends at your side, and our help, you can do it. There is so much to explain, and so little time. Call your friend in."
Yuna nodded as she left the room only to return with Tidus in tow.
"Whoa! What the..What is that?" He asked in shock.
"Hello. I am Valefor. I am a fayth." The woman answered his question with patience known by years of practice. "We have feared, yet looked forward to this day. The day of judgment shall be upon all of Spira if Sin is allowed to reawaken."
"So how do we stop it?" Tidus asked now that he was over his initial shock.
"Come closer, my lady. I shall bestow upon you a gift." Valefor reached her hand out and lightly touched the top of Yuna's head. Given the fact that the woman was transparent Yuna was surprised that she was able to feel the ghostly appendage. "Call upon us in time of need. We will come to your aid."
Tidus had just enough time to catch Yuna before she hit the floor.
--
Auron watched her as she slept. He could not understand how so many scars came to be covering her body. He recognized the fresher ones on her hands and the bottom of her feet, but the others almost looked as if a fiend attacked her! There were even some faint teeth marks as well. He could not imagine her doing all this to herself, but it was the only explanation. The girl had been alone all day.
He had poured a potion over her to help cure some of the wounds, then dressed her in one of his older shirts when he was finished. Right now the only sign she was alive was the steady rise and fall of her chest. He knew he should be in the bathroom cleaning up the broken glass, but something told him staying here was more important.
He noticed when she began moving in her sleep. She moaned as if in pain and he took her hand to try and offer what little comfort he could.
Thunder Plains. She had always hated this place ever since that day. Rikku glanced around trying to find a way out, but instead she saw a man walking by himself. She tried to call out to him, warn him of how dangerous it was to go alone.
The man turned her way as if looking for something and she gasped when she saw his face. It was Seymour. Fear froze her to her spot. She knew what was going to happen next. Seymour stopped walking and brought his hands in front of him in a fancy pattern. A chain fell from the sky and pulled a huge creature from the very ground in front of him.
Rikku looked ahead as three figures came walking down the path. Two men and a young girl, not even in her teens yet. The girl was skipping around them happily showing off her treasures while the men laughed. In her hands were lots of shiny orbs and gems.
"See Uncle Braska, this one is a lighting gem. And this is a electro marble." She pulled them close to her chest making sure not to drop them as she showed them off. "Thank you for letting me collect them."
The man named Braska ran his hand on the top of her head. "Just be careful with them, Rikku. I don't want your father getting upset if they break inside his home."
"Aww, the kid knows how to handle them. I'm just glad she stole them from the fiends and not me!" The dark skinned man laughed loudly before looking ahead. There in front of them was a huge monster sitting. They attempted to veer off the path and go around it. But the ground in front of them exploded in a flash of flying rocks and mud and Jecht stood in front of the other two to protect them. He was thrown violently aside before he had a chance to retaliate.
Braska pulled a staff out from inside his robes and tried to hide Rikku behind him, but she was being held back by another man he did not recognize. "Rikku!" He shouted before pain consumed his body.
Rikku struggled in the strange man's grip as she threw gems and other items to save her uncle and Jecht.
She felt as someone joined next to her. "You remember this, don't you? You are the reason for their deaths. You were the one that killed them."
She backed away while covering her mouth horrified by this information. "No, I didn't! I didn't mean to. I was trying to save them!" She dropped to the ground as everything around her went white.
"I know you did." The person cooed. "But accidents do happen."
Rikku lifted her face to see who is was with her, but all she could see was his back. His head was covered by a dark hood attached to a cloak that also hid the rest of his body from her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"I'm sorry." Auron must have fallen asleep because he snapped his head up at the sound. It was the girl in front of him. Her small hand was still being held within his own. He didn't understand what she could be sorry about. Suddenly she sat upright and stared right at him. Without warning she lunged at him twisting her arms around his neck and crying into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I killed them."