Fade With Me
Chapter 3
I tossed and turned for what was probably the millionth time that night. I still couldn't fall asleep.
Braska, Jecht, Auron and I had been walking for a whole day. Once it started getting dark, Braska suggested setting up camp for the night. I wasn't about to object. My feet were killing me after an hour of walking. Plus, we encountered a few fiends along the way, but they weren't too much trouble. Auron swiped them down with his katana before I got a chance to pull out my daggers, though.
Darn him. Oh, well. I'll get a chance to show off my awesome moves later.
But, right now, I was laying down on the hard ground, with only a wimpy little blanket to keep me warm. My body was so tired, but my mind couldn't stop racing. I still wasn't sure about why I was in the past. Thinking about that only managed to frustrate me even further because I knew that if I fell asleep, I could possibly speak to Baathum in my dreams…But I can't fall asleep!
I sat up suddenly when an idea interrupted my desperate thoughts. Pulling the blanket to the side slowly, I stood up as quietly as I could so I wouldn't wake up the summoner or his guardians. Glancing around at them, I heard Jecht snoring loudly, and saw that Braska had a peaceful look on his face; they were both out for the count. I froze when Auron's arm twitched slightly. After a few moments, he didn't move again, so I decided it was safe. I turned to walk away from the campsite.
If Baathum is a part of my mind, then my mind can make him appear! Right? I convinced myself that it was a good plan because at that point, I didn't have any other options. As I ventured further into the woods, I tentatively called out, "Baathum?" I stopped walking and scanned my surroundings. "Baathum, you little meanie, come out right now!!"
I heard a sudden rustling of leaves to my right. "B-Baathum?" The rustling got louder. "Okay, you can come out now. This isn't funny!"
A fierce growl came from behind me, followed by an accompanying hiss from where the leaves were rustling. "I-I don't think that's Baathum…" I muttered stupidly.
Two wolves shot out at me from two different directions, but I wasn't ill-prepared. I still had my daggers attached to the sheaths on each leg. I whipped out my trademark weapons and giggled nervously. I hadn't fought a fiend in a while…I hoped I wasn't out of practice. "You wolfies ready to go!?" I taunted. The two wolves started to circle around me, eyeing me viciously all the while. Okay, I'll start things up then!
I lunged at the wolf that looked like the weaker of the two. Unfortunately, it dodged my attack at the last second, and snapped at my arm with its huge fangs. It missed my arm, but just barely. Okay, so maybe I'm a little out of practice. I shook it off and slashed at the wolf again. This time, my aim was true, and I nicked it across its throat. The wolf shrieked and ran off. "Gotcha!" I pumped my fist into the air in victory. At that inopportune moment of…distraction…the other wolf jumped on me from behind, scratching and tearing at the tender skin on my back in the process.
"Ouchies! Get offa me!" I struggled to twist around to get the upper hand.
The wolf weighed a lot more than I was expecting. I guessed I was right in examining the other wolf as the weaker one. Like that matters now…
An unexpected sound of metal grinding against metal came from behind me. The weight from the wolf was suddenly lifted from my body, and the next thing I heard was the wolf's cry of pain. Turning my head slowly, I saw that the wolf was lying motionless in a puddle of blood several feet away from me.
"How did-"
"You were foolish to wander off this far alone," a gruff, chastising voice cut me off.
I rolled over so I could sit up to face my savior, trying to ignore the stinging pain from the wolf's attack. To my surprise, Auron stood in front of me. He was holding his katana over his shoulder, and was looking at me in an irritated way.
I stood up, brushing the dirt off my legs. I looked back at Auron, with a glare of my own, and shot back sarcastically, "I was doing just fine on my own, thank you!"
Auron snorted. "I can see that."
"Hey, listen here, you big meanie! I already took care of one wolf by myself. This one," I pointed at the dead wolf, "just…snuck up on me, that's all." I huffed, crossing my arms indignantly.
Auron shook his head, exasperated. "What were you doing out here, anyway? I would have hated to inform Braska that the little girl we just met was mauled by wolves overnight."
"I am not little!" I took a few steps closer to him. "I'm sixteen years old, just so ya know!" I suddenly couldn't stand looking at him anymore, and I turned my back on him. He was just being so mean to me. I don't know if I like him like this… "How old are you, anyway? I bet I'm not that much younger than you!"
Auron snorted again. "I'm eighteen."
My jaw dropped. He's eighteen? But that would mean…that he was only 28 on Yunie's pilgrimage!…Man, all that stress in his life didn't help him to age very well.
"Why so silent? We failed to get you to close your mouth all day," he chuckled darkly. "I'd like to know what got you to shut up."
I whipped around quickly. "You're only two years older than me, so what gives you the right to act so superior?"
He closed the distance between us with a few strides and was only inches from my face. "I have, without a doubt, been through much more in my life. The two years that separate us are comparable to a fifty year difference between others."
My lip started to quiver. "What makes you so sure that I haven't been through a lot too!?"
He sighed. "Just look at you," he gestured to my appearance. "You're wearing a bikini that barely covers your body, and your disposition is that of a toddler. You are so incredibly immature. And I've only known you for a day," he scoffed. "It's no wonder those Yevonites captured you and your brother so easily."
He didn't know my story wasn't true, but even though it wasn't, that was still a terrible thing to say. I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my cheeks. "Y-You don't know anything…" I brushed past him roughly, making sure to push him a little bit with my shoulder, and headed back towards the campsite.
I didn't get it. Why was this Auron being so cruel to me? The future Auron had his moments, but he was never that bad.
"Wait."
I didn't pause. I picked up my pace, even though the tears made it impossible for me to see clearly. The pain from the wolf attack made itself known again, and in a flash, I had doubled over. I felt for anything around me that I could use to help me stand up, but I found nothing. Out of frustration, I pounded the ground with unnecessary force.
Auron caught up to me, and kneeled next to me. "Those wounds should have been taken care of right away."
I snapped my head at him. "Oh, and that's my fault, I'm guessing?" Why was he having such a powerful effect on me? I barely ever cried…ever.
Auron sighed, and made no response. He started digging though his cloak and pulled out a potion, uncorking the vial. "Stay in that position for just a moment," he demanded.
I sighed. Like I'm really gonna get up and run away again!
The warm, soothing liquid cascaded down my back, healing most of what the wolf had inflicted on me. The potion helped, but there was still a lot of aches and pains left behind after the potion had been used.
"Those wounds were deeper than I had originally thought," Auron remarked conversationally.
I closed my eyes. "Yeah, well, those claws were a lot sharper than I had originally thought," I shot back.
Auron sighed again, and made a move to help me stand up.
"I'm fine," I brushed off his efforts by swatting his arms away.
"As you wish," he muttered.
I stood up, and we started to walk back to the campsite together. Me, being Rikku, hated the fact that this walk was in silence, even though I was really mad at the stupid meanie.
"So, uh, how did you find me out there?" I mumbled.
"I woke up to a strange noise. When I looked around me, I noticed that you were not there," Auron explained.
"So you came after me?" I pressed. "Why did you bother? You obviously don't like me very much." I was curious to hear his response. He really was acting like he disliked me immensely.
"Like I said earlier," Auron began, "I did not wish to inform Braska of your death. He would have been displeased to hear of it."
I shook my head slowly. "Frydajan oui cyo, sayhea," I deadpanned.
---X---X---X---X---X---
Braska jumped up when he saw us return. "Where have you two been?"
Jecht chuckled from where he was laying on the ground. "Whoa, Auron! You're already making a move on the poor girl?"
Auron scowled at Jecht. "It was not like that, Jecht."
Jecht waved him off. "Yeah, sure."
Braska still looked expectant. "So are you going to share what happened, or not?"
I didn't want Braska to think that I was some weakling, even though Auron already looked at me that way. I didn't know if I could take any more condescending stares. Wrapping my arms around myself, I suddenly felt very cold. I looked at Auron, and he seemed to read my mind. "I believe she was sleep-walking. I woke up when I heard her leave. When I caught up to her, she was having a very engaging conversation with a tree."
That really helped, I sarcastically thought.
Braska began to chuckle. "You should be more careful, Rikku. You cannot possibly defend yourself against fiends if you are asleep!"
I gave a small, embarrassed smile. When I looked at Auron, he was smirking. Sayhea.
"Well, we better get back to sleep," Braska suggested. "We have a long day ahead of us."
Oh, yeah. Guadosalam. I wonder if there's a young Seymour living there…
And maybe on the way there, I can think of another way to contact Baathum…seeing as my other plan didn't work out so well…
I returned to my sleeping area, and this time, I fell asleep before my head even touched the ground.
---X---X---X---X---X---
Disclaimer: I still don't own FFX…!
Translations:
Frydajan oui cyo, sayhea=Whatever you say, meanie
A/N:
I know, I know!
1) Auron was being really mean!?
2) You changed Auron's age!?
3) When will this fic get better!?
So, yes, I changed Auron's age, but that's just so he and Rikku are somewhat closer in age…
And, yes, he's being really mean…but stay tuned and there will be aurikku-ness!
---PROMISE?
Yes, yes, I promise! =)
---okay…
*looks at her dog who is staring at her expectantly…*
Eh…and I promise this fic will get better eventually….?
So, anyway…REVIEW!?!?
I love reviews! They brighten my days and make me update much faster! ;)
*the dog's stare begins to become borderline creepy…*
I-I'm gonna leave now…
-koalababay