(quick a/n: I LOVED writing this chapter!! EnJoY!)
---X---X---X---X---X---
Fade With Me
Chapter 5
A flash of lightning illuminated the skies over us, followed by a rumbling roar of thunder. I flinched. Covering my ears with my arms, I hunched over slightly to drown out the terrifying noise.
Braska and his guardians were several feet ahead of me. I was trailing behind steadily after every boom that resounded overhead. I tried to walk faster to keep up with them, but my awkward stance only resulted in me tripping over and landing in a heap on the wet ground. "Ouchies…" I kept my arms over my head in hopes of making the thunder go away. It was pointless.
"Rikku?" Braska's amused voice came trailing back to where I was sprawled out on the ground. His laugh was filled with mirth. "Are you scared of thunder?" He sounded astonished.
I slowly removed my arms from my face, and looked up at him with a convincing smile. "Of course not! I was just-" Another crackle of thunder exploded above me. "Eep!" I yelped, ducking down again. I noticed my mistake and looked up slowly, giving Braska a sheepish smile. "Um…it's not as bad as it used to be."
"Used to be!?" Jecht's scratchy voice reverberated into my ears just as sharply as the thunder. I recoiled at the harsh volume of his voice.
I giggled nervously. "Y-Yeah…?" Uh-oh.
"She tells us this now?" Auron questioned Braska, looking annoyed again. "And she was so excited to be a guardian…" He turned to continue his journey through the nightmarish Plains.
Braska sighed. "Enough, you two," he scolded his guardians. "Rikku," he gave me a hand to help me stand up. "Venturing through the Plains is not a simple task. We still have quite a distance to cover before we reach Macalania. Are you positive you wish to continue? No one is forcing you to stay."
They want to get rid of me already!? I crossed my arms, face set with determination. "I'll be fine. I've been through here once before." I rubbed the loosely hanging frills on my cut-off sleeves in restlessness. "I-I can do this!" Thunder responded to my declaration by booming its disapproval. I bit my lip to keep from making any other startled noises.
"Whatever you say, kid!" Jecht muttered under his breath callously.
"I heard that!" I shakily pointed at the blitzball player with reproach. He rolled his eyes in response. "You didn't have to say it like that…" I trailed off.
Jecht closed his eyes and rubbed his rain-drenched face with the palm of his hand. "Yeah, sorry."
He's been really off ever since they got back from the Farplane. I wonder what's wrong?
"Hey, Jecht?" I stumbled to match his walking pace. "Are you okay? You seem kinda sad."
Jecht grunted obnoxiously. "I'm fine."
I smiled to myself. I bet I can make him tell me! "I don't believe you!" I replied in a sing-song voice.
He looked at me with one of his eyebrows arched expectantly. "Really?" he asked sardonically.
"Yep!" I chirped right back, leaning closer to him so we were face to face.
Jecht sighed. Yay! He's caving in!
"Fine…I, uh…I didn't see my wife or kid in the Farplane." Jecht crossed his arms and looked down at his feet. Somewhere along the line, we had stopped walking altogether.
I tilted my head to the side slightly. "Shouldn't that be…a good thing? That means they're still alive!" I flashed him my million mega-watt smile.
He shrugged, still looking at the ground. "I dunno," he looked up at me again. "We, uh, don't have any summoners where I'm from. So, if she died…then how could she get to the Farplane? Same with the little runt?"
I gave him a playful shove, sending him staggering to the side a few paces. He cracked a small smile in return. I was happy to see he was finally cheering up a little. "Not everyone in the Farplane was sent there, ya know," I explained. "Some go there of their own free will. That's when they don't have any resentment towards the living, and they're happy to be at rest," Jecht's smile faltered. "But don't worry!" I waved my hands in front of his face rapidly. "Your family's still alive. I know it!" I really do! "And I'm sure your son will grow up to be a wonderful man!" I finished with a proud smile.
He gave me a lopsided grin and threw his arm around my shoulder, tugging me to him to give me a noogie. Suddenly, he stopped and let go of his hold around my head. I almost fell over again, but he caught me before I could touch the ground. I reached for my headband to readjust what he had messed up. "Hey, who told you I had a son!?" Jecht asked dubiously.
My eyes widened. Uh-oh, again! "Um, lucky guess?" I giggled nervously and skipped away from the blitzball star. I hoped he would believe my blatant lie.
"Hey, wait up!" he hollered, chasing after me. We had gotten way behind while we were talking. Braska and Auron were really far ahead and it surprised me that they hadn't noticed our absence yet. Or maybe one of them noticed it and was happy about it, I thought sourly. All he wants to do is finish the stupid pilgrimage and send Uncle Braska to his death.
My eyes clamped shut as another thunder bellowed throughout the dark skies. I flinched again, but I wasn't trembling as badly as usual whenever I was in the Thunder Plains. I shrugged, thinking that maybe it was because I was distracting myself by talking to someone. Which gives me an idea!
"Hey, Auron!" I caught up to the legendary guardian and his summoner. Jecht wasn't too far behind me.
"What do you want?" he answered gruffly.
"Oh, nothing in particular," I replied, a sudden thought rushing to mind. "But, I guess I am curious to hear why you and Braska left Jecht and me behind! I thought guardians were supposed to look out for each other!" I tried to push him to show how upset I was, but he didn't budge an inch. He was as immovable as a sleeping chocobo.
My uncle chuckled blithely. "We didn't leave you behind," Braska replied before Auron could answer my question. He and his guardian shared a look. "We were simply giving you and Jecht time to…talk."
When I glanced at Auron, my heart stopped beating. He looked angry. His jaw was tightly clenched, and he refused to look me in the eye. I had no clue why he would be so mad. Braska didn't seem to mind that Jecht and I…
Wait a minute! Is Auron jealous!? I slapped my hand to my forehead in frustration. Who am I kidding? Auron probably wouldn't bat an eyelash if the grandest of all maesters took an interest in me.
Auron unclenched his jaw, finally making eye contact with me. "If you and Jecht are quite finished with your coquettish games," he stated, "then I suggest we stick together through the remainder of these plains."
My jaw dropped, and my heart rate picked up to a painful speed as it crashed against my chest. Could he really be jealous?
"Yes, the Plains are very dangerous in these parts," Braska agreed, nodding.
I didn't even hear Braska's last comment. I was still in shock over what Auron had said. I should have felt upset, enraged even, at his senseless reasoning, but instead, my spirits soared. I was so unable to contain my bright smile that I had to droop my head down to hide it. Why am I so happy about Auron's reaction? It's not like he likes me…
Jecht shoved Auron good-naturedly, chuckling all the while. "Whoa, there! If you're not careful, we might think you're jealous!"
So Jecht saw it the same way I did. Hmm. No point dwelling on it, I guess.
"…" Auron shook his head and made no response to Jecht's lighthearted teasing. He picked up his pace a little bit, but remained close enough to Braska, Jecht and I, should he be needed for anything.
A sudden shaking from beneath our feet reverberated around us, wiping the smile right off my face. It was accompanied by a loud, thrashing noise. Wishful thinking would have told me that it was just thunder, but I knew that even the loudest claps of thunder didn't make the ground shake like it was right now.
"W-What's going on!?" I stammered, trying to mask my fear. My knees started to buckle in apprehension.
Auron unsheathed his katana slowly and got into his battle stance. He spared us a brief glance. "Prepare yourselves. We are not alone."
I drew out my daggers hesitantly, looking around for the source of the pounding noise. To my complete chagrin, a fiend monstrous in size came charging at us from around the corner. I remembered fleeing from one of them on Yunie's pilgrimage. The beast had almost killed all of us before we had managed to escape!
It was a behemoth.
I was completely petrified to be facing its yellow eyes, dark purple fur, jagged fangs, powerful tail, threatening horns, and razor-sharp claws again. I had prayed that I would never have to face one of these horrifying fiends again, especially considering what had almost happened the last time.
I trembled from my fingers all the way down to my toes. I don't want to die!
"Rikku!" Braska snapped me out of my fearful thoughts with his firm voice. "Now is your chance to prove your worth as a guardian." He smiled briefly, but it was soon replaced by a determined look as he took out his staff. "Let it come."
"Alright!" Jecht slapped his hands together, clearly excited about the oncoming action. "'Bout time we had a real challenge 'round here!" He drew his long sword and held it in front of him, ready for the battle.
I shook my head in disbelief. They actually wanted to fight the behemoth. Do they not realize the fiend's true power?
The behemoth roared furiously, making the first move by charging at Auron with its vicious snout. Auron was too quick, though, and he parried the fiend's attack with his katana. Braska, Jecht and I took that as our cue to join Auron at the front line of the battle.
"We don't want you to have all the fun, Auron!" Jecht laughed as he ran towards the fiend with his sword raised.
"Right," Auron deadpanned, running towards the fiend as well.
I hung back for a moment, sifting through the pockets attached to my skirt, looking for a specific item. "Aha! Here it is!" I shouted with glee as I took out the ice gem I had stolen from an elemental fiend we had encountered earlier. Digging through my other pocket, I whipped out a grenade. "This goes here…and…voila!" I used the alchemy skills I had taught myself and created an ice grenade. "Hey, look out!" I warned as I darted towards the beast. My new friends heeded my warning, moving out of the way right as I launched the item at the fiend.
My aim was true, and the grenade nailed its target right in the face. Upon contact, several explosions of ice, snow, and fire struck the behemoth with tremendous force.
"How the hell did you do that!?" Jecht hollered. "You can teach me how to do that later!"
I smiled in response, but it was short-lived. The behemoth was snarling in pain. It shrunk back slightly and shook its head vehemently when the explosions had subsided. Then, it sent its angry gaze directly at me. Oh, no. With its fangs bared, it bent its head down and came charging at me with its sharp horns.
"Rikku, look out!" Braska shouted from afar.
I evaded his attack just in time, but only barely. If I had waited one more second, it would have surely skewered me. A Rikku-kebob…not exactly appetizing, I'd say! I shivered at the thought.
The behemoth turned back around, charging for me again. If anything, he was even more enraged after his first assault on me had been dodged. I pulled out my daggers again, ready to defend myself. I wasn't sure how I could possibly defend myself with two, dinky little daggers. He was getting even closer. I still didn't have an attack strategy planned out! Biting my lip, I closed my eyes in fear, waiting for death to sweep me into its cold embrace.
Suddenly, I felt a powerful force send me flying to the side. "Oof!" I groaned as I hit the ground. I opened my eyes, confused. The dark skies of the Thunder Plains were still above me. How am I still alive!? Sitting up quickly, I assessed the current battle. Jecht was swinging his mighty sword at the behemoth with as much strength as he could possibly muster.
As I continued to scan my surroundings, my eyes fell upon an odd form close by. It was covered in dark red fabric, and it wasn't moving. Realization dawned on me. "A-Auron!?" I pulled myself to my feet and dashed to where he was. I dropped to my knees and rolled him onto his back. He was unconscious. "Eteud! Why did you push me out of the way!?" I blinked away the tears that had formed in my eyes.
He had a deep gash across his chest. The behemoth's horn must have been so sharp that it penetrated right through Auron's chest plate…and he was losing a lot of blood, fast. "E's cu cunno," I mumbled through tears.
"Move out of the way, Jecht!" I heard Braska call from a distance. "I'll summon!" He sounded so far away.
But it didn't matter. All that mattered right now was the man in front of me, who was slowly bleeding to death. I convinced myself that the only reason I cared so much was because I felt guilty. He had been mortally wounded because of me.
I shook my head. I'm not that good of an actress…
My bottom lip quivered as I tried to hold back the next onslaught of tears. "H-Hang on, Auron." I hoped he could somehow hear me. "I'll get you help soon!" I dug through my pockets, praying to all gods that I was mistaken and that there was a leftover potion or something in there. But there wasn't. I looked around for anything that I could use to put pressure on his wound, but I didn't find anything. I moaned miserably.
I reached out and took off Auron's cloak carefully. "This'll have to do…" I wrapped it around his chest in hopes of staunching his blood loss.
Weird sounds were coming from the battlefield now. It sounded like two monsters fighting instead of just one. I looked up slowly, and was astounded by the sight. It was one of Braska's aeons fighting the behemoth. And it looked like it was winning!
In the final attack, the aeon bent over and the wheel-like symbol on its back began to spin erratically. Then, the aeon opened its mouth to release a flare of energy, all blasting toward the fiend. The behemoth didn't stand a chance. It collapsed onto the ground and burst into thousands of pyreflies after the aeon's attack was complete. Wait a minute. I know that aeon. It was always my favorite one…
My eyes widened in shock. "Bahamut?" I gasped. A little boy with a hooded face came to mind. "B-Baathum?" I closed my eyes. "Baathum is the fayth of Bahamut! Why didn't I realize that!?" I slapped my hand to my face. "I'm such an idiot!" Wiping away the sweat from the battle, I opened my eyes again. "But what is a fayth doing talking to me? After Sin was defeated, I thought they were all put to rest!"
I think that this mission is actually more than I could ever possibly comprehend.
---X---X---X---X---X---
With one final grunt, Jecht and Braska managed to lift an unconscious Auron onto the bed in one of the rooms of the travel agency.
"It's a good thing that the proprietor of this agency found us and told us that this was nearby," Braska said, looking down at the wounded guardian sadly. "I don't think Auron would have made it otherwise."
Jecht nodded solemnly, uncharacteristically silent.
Braska had performed as many cures on Auron as his own stamina would allow, before he had almost collapsed as well. Rin, much younger than I had ever seen him, had been venturing through Thunder Plains when he found us and told us to follow him to his travel agency.
Braska put his hand on Jecht's shoulder, and they turned to leave so Auron could rest. "You comin', Rikku?" Jecht asked when he and his summoner reached the door.
I shook my head. "No. I think I'll just stay here with him for a little bit." Butterflies were beginning to form in my stomach. I wondered why I was feeling so jumpy.
Braska nodded once. "We will be in the lobby if you need us." He and Jecht left the room.
I sighed when I was finally left alone, walking over to the side of the bed to sit down. "Auron, I am so sorry you got hurt." I grabbed his hand and intertwined it with mine. "It was my own fault for being so unprepared. I should've known what to do…" I looked at his serene face. He's so handsome when he's not scowling.
---X---X---X---X---X---
Thunder hammered violently outside, but I didn't pay any mind to it, surprisingly. My concern for Auron seemed to overshadow everything else. I had been in Auron's room for quite a while at that point. "I guess there's no use denying it anymore." I sighed again. "I think I still have feelings for you, Auron." He was still motionless. Like I actually expected him to wake up and proclaim his undying love for me! I thought sarcastically. "Not like you'd understand how I could possibly use the word "still." You'd think I was crazy if I told you that I knew you ten years from now."
I let go of his hand and buried my face in my palms. "Why did you have to be so stupid!?" My muffled voice came through my hands. "That should be me in your place!"
"I hope I'm not intruding?" A familiar, yet slightly different, voice called into the room. The sudden interruption startled me, and I flinched. I looked back at the visitor and when I saw who it was, I smiled.
"No, Rin," I assured him. "I was just talking to myself, that's all."
He closed the door to the room and walked over to the other side of the bed. "I need to change Sir Auron's bandages now, Miss Rikku. You don't have to leave, but I may need you to move for just a moment."
I nodded, getting off the bed. "Um…is there anything I can help you with?" It was so weird to talk to Rin like we were mere acquaintances. I'd known him my whole life, even though I never remembered exactly what he looked like ten years ago. My childhood memory was a little fuzzy in some departments.
Rin smiled. "Certainly. You can help me rewrap his wounds, if you wish." He leaned over the bed to pull down the sheets that were covering Auron and his injury.
I had to turn my head away when Rin detached Auron's old bandages. His wound was still grotesque, even though Braska had done his best to heal it right away. I supposed behemoth horns had some type of poison in it, or something. That could have explained why his wounds were so resistant to curative magic and potions. "Maybe I'll just watch," I muttered under my breath.
"I have used a special Al Bhed serum on his wound, specially crafted for behemoth attacks," he explained, producing a sigh of relief from me. Rin continued to change Auron's dressings. "It should heal properly now." He glanced up at me for a second and I noticed that his eyes had a mischievous twinkle. It reminded me of the times he would help me sneak away from Home for a little bit so I could help him with his machina. But this twinkle had a different implication, I thought.
He started to laugh when he noticed my mystified expression. He shook his head, regaining his composure. "I believe that you and Sir Auron make a lovely couple, Miss Rikku." He gave me a genuine smile. "You two seem to care for each other deeply."
…He thinks…Auron and I….Huh!?
I blinked several times, clearly flabbergasted by his comment. "I-I think you're under the wrong impression!"
The corners of Rin's lips turned down. "What do you mean?"
"Auron and I…" I gestured to the wounded man with a unsteady arm. "We're not…together…like that."
Rin looked down at Auron's motionless form. "I apologize. I misunderstood what I saw." He looked at me again. "He is a fool if he does not realize what is right in front of him." Rin cleared his throat, realizing his bold statement. "If I may say so," he bowed, correcting himself.
"T-Thank you," I stuttered. "But, I don't think it'll ever be like that with him." I snuck a peek at Auron with a forlorn look. "I don't think that I'm his type of girl."
Rin laughed again. "You may be surprised by what you find out about people once you open your heart enough to listen."
Such words of wisdom, I thought, biting back a smirk.
"I still don't think-" I began, but was cut off by a loud moan from the bed. I looked down to see Auron's face contorted in what I thought seemed like unimaginable pain. His eyes started to flutter until finally, after a few moments, both eyes darted open. He gazed around the room, and then his eyes fell upon Rin and I. "Where am I?" he asked with a hoarse voice.
"Auron!?" I cried. "You're awake!" I dashed towards him, but had to hold myself back before I pounced onto him in my excitement. This is the past, dummy! Remember? I gotta keep myself in check! I rebuked myself.
"Where am I?" he asked again. This time, his voice had a more noticeable trace of confusion in it.
Rin stepped in before I could reply. "You are at the travel agency of the Thunder Plains. I am Rin, the proprietor of several of these agencies throughout Spira."
"An Al Bhed-run agency?" Auron seemed as surprised as a wounded guardian could possibly look, laying in a sickbed. "That's a first."
"Yes, I have only just begun," Rin nodded. "But so far, all is going smoothly."
"Well," Auron grunted, trying to sit up in the bed. He failed miserably, resigning himself to remain in the same position he was in when he woke up. "I thank you for your services, Rin. I believe I owe you my life."
Rin shook his head slowly, a small smile daring to grace his lips. "No need to thank me, Sir Auron. If it hadn't been for Miss Rikku's first aid on the battlefield," he motioned to me, "I would not have had anything to work with in the first place."
Auron closed his eyes, sighing deeply. When he opened them again, his gaze locked onto mine. "I give you my thanks, Rikku."
I wasn't expecting a thank you!
I waved my hands in front of me briskly. "I should be thanking you!" My gaze dropped down to my boots. "You got hurt pushing me out of the way…" I trailed off. My cheeks were starting to feel like they were burning up. I'm blushing?
"Rikku?" Rin added to the conversation, saving me from my embarrassment. I looked up questioningly. "Would you mind leaving for a moment to tell Summoner Braska and his other guardian that Sir Auron is awake?"
I smiled, thankful for the distraction. "Yeah, no problem." I walked towards the door. "I'll be right back."
"And Rikku?" Rin asked just before I turned around the corner outside of the room. I backtracked a few steps and poked my head in the room again. "Would you please close the door?"
Weird…? "Sure!" I reached for the doorknob and shut the door.
I made my way to the lobby where Braska and Jecht were, but I paused right before turning around the corner when I heard hushed voices.
"I don't get it, Braska!" Jecht whisper-yelled. "Auron would never risk his ass like that for me! Why would he do that for someone we've only known for a little bit?"
Pushing myself against the wall to stay hidden, I leaned my head to the side a bit so I could hear what they were saying.
"I'm not quite sure of the situation either, Jecht," Braska replied calmly. "I do know that Auron acted in a way that he thought was best. It is his obligation as a guardian to do so. I have no qualms about his action to save Rikku." He sighed heavily. "I do not wish to even think about the condition she would be in had she and Auron switched positions."
"Yeah," Jecht agreed. "Auron's a tough guy to injure. I ain't sayin' Rikku's weak! She's a pretty good fighter, actually. I just don't think she would've lived to tell the tale of how she got mauled by a behemoth."
"I agree," Braska stated.
I felt awkward listening to their conversation as though I was a little kid eavesdropping on my parents. I couldn't last another minute pressed against the wall like that, so I brushed myself off, and made my way around the corner as naturally as I could.
"Hey, guys! Guess what!?" I exclaimed with a bright smile. I didn't even have to fake the smile. I was truly happy that Auron was going to be okay. "Auron woke up! Do you wanna come see him?"
"Yeah!" Jecht chuckled. "I knew he'd survive, just to spite us all," he muttered jokingly.
I punched his shoulder reproachfully. "Don't kid about stuff like that!"
"Relax, kid!" Jecht mumbled.
I let Braska and Jecht enter Auron's room first. I figured they had more of a right to talk to him than I did. They technically knew him longer than I had (if you don't count the whole future thing), and I still felt awkward being in Auron's presence after he saved my life. I didn't know how to voice the things I told him while he was still unconscious. I needed to give myself some time to think about what I was going to say to him.
"Glad to see you are alright, old friend." Braska walked over to Auron, who was now sitting up in bed quite comfortably, and patted his shoulder.
Auron smiled a true smile then. It was the first time I'd seen an actual grin cross his past-self's features. And it wasn't unpleasant to look at, either.
Another attack of the butterflies in my stomach made themselves known. I wrapped my arms around my torso to ease the weird feeling.
"So when can Auron get outta bed so we leave this place?" Jecht got in Rin's face after he, Braska, and Auron had finished catching up.
"I would say in an hour or so, actually!" Rin replied with a smile. "His wounds are healing with a remarkable speed, and he seems more alert by the second. I should see no problem in your continuation of the pilgrimage, Lord Braska." He gave Auron a serious look. "I must ask that you take it easy for the next day, however. Try to avoid doing anything that would raise your blood pressure and reopen the wounds."
"Never tell Auron not to overexert himself," Braska laughed.
"I'll deal with the fiends! No prob!" Jecht pumped his fist into his chest with a dignified smirk. "Auron won't have to do anything!"
"Very well then," Rin clapped his hands together, getting back into his proprietor role. "I am terribly sorry to ask such a thing of you, Lord Braska, but I must charge you for this room. We are running low on gil as it is-"
"It is not a problem." Braska put his hand on Rin's shoulder to ease his worries.
Rin bowed. "I must insist on giving you a hefty discount, however," the proprietor stated before turning to go back to the lobby.
"If you insist," Jecht mumbled, following Rin out the door.
Braska turned to me before he left. "Rikku, would you mind staying with Auron for a moment while I settle business with Rin?" Braska glanced at his guardian, who was having trouble untangling himself from the many blankets that were covering him. He still somehow managed to maintain a regal aura while he struggled, though.
I couldn't stifle a giggle. "Sure, thing. We'll meet you out there in a little bit." Braska nodded and left.
Go away, butterflies! I internally scolded my stomach. "Here, let me help." I walked over and separated his lower body from the blankets. I knew if I asked if he needed my help, he would just refuse.
He mumbled a thank you and steadily swung his legs over to the side of the bed. "Maybe you shouldn't try to get up so fast-" I started to voice.
He didn't listen to me. He got to his feet and stood there proudly for a few moments, but then I noticed that he started to sway slightly to the right. I was at his side at the blink of an eye, wrapping his arms around my shoulders to help him sustain his balance. "It seems all I can say to you today is thank you." He sighed morosely.
This is my chance! I need to tell him…
"Auron, why did you risk your life for me?" That didn't come out as subtly as it sounded in my head. "I mean, you clearly don't like me very much." I dropped my gaze to the floor again. "I would think you'd be happy to have me gone. The behemoth would've taken care of the job." I sound so bitter! Ugh, this is hopeless…
Auron visibly blanched, taken aback my brusque comments. He sighed again before replying, "Was it not you who said that guardians were supposed to look out for one another?" He was wearing an unreadable expression. "I was only doing my duty as a guardian."
"I guess," I mumbled, trying not to look him in his captivating brown eyes.
"Rikku," he said seriously. Uh-oh. He looks mad again. "It was never my intention to imply that I disliked you. I assure you that is not the case. I apologize if I acted in any way to offend you."
Dammit, you stupid butterflies! Leave my poor tummy alone!
"I do not wish for there to be any…tension on Lord Braska's pilgrimage," he continued. "As a summoner, he does not deserve that."
Oh, of course. For Uncle Braska…
"I understand," I replied, flashing him another one of my radiant smiles. "And I have an idea! How 'bout we start fresh, kay?" I released myself from underneath his arms so I could offer him my hand for a handshake.
He looked at my hand for a moment with a smile that was hardly noticeable, and reached out to shake it firmly. "A good plan, indeed."
The only thing I can do right now is just ignore my feelings for him. It's the only way to get through this "mission" without a broken heart. There'd be no point in acting on them because 1) there's no way he'd feel the same way, and 2) I would be even more devastated when I return to a Auron-less future…
---X---X---X---X---X---
"Finally!" Jecht groaned as Braska and Rin shook hands in farewell. "Let's go!"
Auron rolled his eyes, and I giggled. Jecht was growing on me. He wasn't as crass as he was funny to me at that point.
"Patience, Jecht," Braska chided with a smile. He nodded at Rin one last time and turned to leave.
"Oh, wait just a moment!" Rin ran after us as we walked back into the freezing rain. "Miss Rikku." He turned to me with his arms behind his back. "I would like to give this to you." He brought his arms in front of himself, and in his hands was a beautiful orange scarf. It was long, fuzzy, and sparkly, clearly screaming RIKKU all over it. How did he know that orange was my favorite color? I wondered.
"Please take this with you as a gift from me." He leaned forward and gently wrapped it around my neck. "I assume the temperatures will be steadily decreasing as the pilgrimage continues, no?"
Braska nodded. "Macalania, Mt. Gagazet, the Zanarkand Ruins," he ticked the names off on his fingers. "They are not exactly warm places to be."
I sighed at the comforting warmth that was now embracing my neck. Tears came to my eyes at the pure selflessness of Rin's gift. Rubbing my eyes before anyone would notice my reaction, I rushed towards him to give him a bone-crushing hug. I didn't know what came over me. This Rin didn't even know that we knew each other before now, and yet, he was giving me this beautiful scarf. The only reasoning that came to mind for my emotional reaction was that Rin was always kind and thoughtful when it came to others. I loved him like a brother…and I wasn't sure when I would see him again.
"Dryhg oui cu silr, Rin," I cried into his shoulder. "Drec sayhc y mud du sa."
Rin's eyes widened at the use of our foreign tongue. I usually spoke Al Bhed when I was feeling really annoyed, or a really strong emotion. Right now, it was because of a really strong emotion, and I had no idea what that emotion was…
He chuckled after a moment. I was still hanging on to him firmly. "It was no problem, Miss Rikku." He took a step back and lightly detached himself from me. "I hope it comes in handy." He smiled at me, but then his eyes drifted to something else.
Curious, I followed his gaze with my eyes, turning around slowly until Auron's face came into view. He was staring at us, but when he saw me catch his gaze, he looked away quickly. It was too late, though. I had seen him watching us with a pained expression on his face.
That's…odd. Maybe his injuries are still bothering him?
I shook my head slowly. If I was going to continue on with this mission, then I would need to start getting a lot better at convincing myself of certain things.
---X---X---X---X---X---
Disclaimer: Is this even necessary at this point? Read the other chappies to find my other disclaimers! =)
Translations:
Eteud=Idiot
E's cu cunno=I'm so sorry
Dryhg oui cu silr=Thank you so much
Drec sayhc y mud du sa=This means a lot to me
A/N:
*gasp!* Oh, the drama!
What will happen in the next chapter of Fade With Me!?!?!
Stay tuned for more adventures, more surprises, but most importantly: more AURIKKU!
But expect a quick update if lots and lots of reviews make themselves known! *hint hint* ;)
And THANKS FOR READING, EVERYBODY!!! =)
-koalababay-