Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Separate Thread ❯ Smoothing the Pattern Out ( Chapter 6 )

A SEPARATE THREAD

Chapter 6: Smoothing the Pattern Out

The temple is shaking as they approach it…as if an earthquake were occurring beneath it.

"Is that the Djose Temple?" Tidus asked, and Yuna nodded in response.

A large pillar of stone is in front of them. Electricity flies out of the top, and the stone separates in to large chunks, revealing the temple.

"Awesome!" remarks Tidus, watching the temple, its boulders flying in midair, strands of electricity shooting from one to the other.

"The Lightning Mushroom Rock. It only opens when a summoner addresses the Fayth," Lulu informs him.

"That means another summoner's already in there," Wakka explains.

"Another summoner?" Yuna inquires…sounding worried.

"What if it's Dona?" Tidus asked in annoyance.

"We have to hurry," Yuna states.

"Right! In we go!" Tidus shouts.

They enter the temple, just as the door to the Cloister of Trials opens. An attractive young man in a blue robe walks out, followed by a child and another young man.

"I beg your pardon," the man asks. "But may I ask your name?"

"I am Summoner Yuna, from the Isle of Besaid."

"As I thought! The daughter of Lord Braska. You have the look of your father," he said.

"My father? You knew him?"

"No, I have never met the man. Ah, my apologies. I am Isaaru. I am a summoner, like you…" he replies.

The child speaks up. "I'm Pacce. Pleased to meet you."

Marina could feel Auron's surprise and discomfort…mirroring her own when they realized this child was a guardian. She felt sick…remembering what Auron had told her about the Final Aeon. "He's…he's only a boy!" she thought in horror.

The other young man spoke. "And I'm Maroda. I'm guarding my big brother here."

Isaaru continued. "Since I was a child, I've always looked up to Lord Braska. I wished I would someday become a high summoner like he was. You must have some of your father's talent in you! I believe you might someday defeat Sin."

"I…I'm not really…I've only just become a summoner," Yuna responded.

"Of course, I've no intention of losing, either. So perhaps we should race to see who can defeat Sin first, no?" he teased.

"Very well, then. I accept your challenge," Yuna answered

Maroda spoke up, interrupting. "Isaaru…"

"Yuna, I beg of your leave. Good luck to both of us!"

"Yes," Yuna agrees.

Auron has noticed Marina watching the three boys intently. As the three turn to walk away…he catches her attention, touching her arm with his gloved hand. "What do you see?"

"Nothing…concrete. I have this feeling about them. I feel…like they may become a part of our family…" she answered softly.

He looked at her in surprise…causing her to smile. "I'm sorry…when I say family…I mean all of us…Yuna, Wakka, Lulu and Kimahri…they're my family too," she replied.

He nodded…and looked down at the floor. "I am glad they have been here for you…when I could not," he said quietly.

"Hey…" she said, attempting to get him to look at her. When he lifted his head and met her gaze she spoke. "All that really matters is you're here now. Don't fret about the past."

He nodded once more…and they continued to the Cloister.

Just as Tidus turned to leave, Isaaru called out. "Hey, you…"

"Me?" Tidus asked in surprise.

The summoner and his brothers walked back to Tidus. "You are Yuna's guardian, no? Maroda's heard a curious rumor. I thought you should know."

"I heard it from those Crusaders. Seems that summoners have been going out on pilgrimage and just…disappearing," Maroda informed him.

"It could just be the fiends got them…but not so many so quickly," Isaaru added.

"Sorry I don't know more, but…watch your back. Ain't much future for a guardian without a summoner, eh?" Maroda said.

Pacce…barely overhearing them, shouts "What? What? Whatcha talkin' 'bout?"

"We're talking about doing your job as a guardian!" Maroda teased.

"Hey, I'm doing good! Right big brother?"

Isaaru smiles and nods at the boy, and then faces Tidus once more. "Please be careful," he tells Tidus.

"Will do!" Tidus assures, watching them as they leave.

Tidus joins his companions in the Cloister of Trials. When the trials are completed, the door to the Chamber of the Fayth opens and Yuna enters, leaving the rest of the group to wait. And as they wait, Dona and Barthello enter the outer room.

"Well, well. You again," Dona comments. "Still traveling with quite the crowd I see."

Barthello approaches Auron, appraising him. "You are…Auron, no?" he asks.

"What of it?" Auron inquires, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

"Can….I shake your hand? Auron--no Sir Auron…you're the reason I became a guardian!" Barthello exclaims. Auron laughs and extends his hand. They shake hands. "Thank you, sir! This means so much to me!" Barthello gushes.

Marina smiles. She knows he is feeling embarrassed by the praise…but she can also sense pride and pleasure within him at the man's statement. She knows that he has been feeling bad about the choices he has made in his life…and struggling with feelings of failure. It was good to feel his happiness at being acknowledged. He deserved that.

"Calling the personal guardian to Lord Braska riffraff?" Wakka asked Dona.

"And you call yourself a summoner!" Lulu added.

"Yeesh!" Tidus threw in.

Dona doesn't look happy…and she sounds flustered when she speaks. "Barthello, enough! Get back here!" she orders.

"Hang in there, buddy, eh?" Tidus remarks.

They continue their wait for Yuna. She eventually exits…walking weakly out of the room and falling to her knees. Kimahri runs to her side, to hold her and help her up.

Unfortunately, Dona is still there. And unfortunately, she felt she had to comment. "You owe much to your father. All these guardians…and Sir Auron, too? And I hear Maester Seymour's quite taken with you. The world must look different when you're the daughter of Lord Braska," she complained, her voice filled with jealousy.

"This has nothing to do with my father! I am traveling on my own, as a full-fledged summoner," Yuna informs her.

"Oh, is that so? Then try standing on your own two legs for once. Your guardians won't be able to protect you when the time comes," Dona retorted as she headed out of the Cloister area.

Yuna and her guardians leave the Cloister …all heading off in different directions, to lend aid where they can.

Yuna and Marina went off to help with the healing. They had worked non-stop…healing the sick…comforting the dying; when Auron found them three hours later. Yuna, noticing Auron standing in the room watching them with concern, realized that being surrounded by so many people in both physical and emotional agony must be painful for the older woman. She could see the pain and fatigue on her face.

"Marina…I think I can handle the rest…why don't you go find a room? I think Sir Auron's waiting on you…" she said with a sly smile.

Marina blushed. "Are you sure…I can remain for a while longer if you need my help."

"No…go…that's an order from your summoner!" the younger woman teased.

"Yes ma'am…" Marina teased back. "But you take care…don't wear yourself out…" Marina scolded, growing serious.

"I promise…I'll be okay."

Marina joins Auron at the entrance to the room she and Yuna had been working in. He leaned forward and spoke low near her ear. "I was able to find a quiet place for us to…rest," he tells her, his deep, soft voice implying so much more. She felt heat flash through her body at those words…that voice. She follows him to the inn.

Auron is stretched out on the bed, naked…his back resting against the headboard. His good eye follows her movements as she slowly slips off her clothing. Desire grows within him as more of her body is revealed to him. When the last of her garments fall to the floor, she moves to stand beside the bed. . She carefully eases onto the bed with him...crawling up over his body. He can feel her heat against him.

"Sir Auron?" she asked teasingly.

He chuckled, and she felt the laugh rumble through his chest as she lay atop him. "Yes?" he asked.

"May I take care of you?" she inquired slyly.

"What do you have in mind?"

"This..." she said softly, as she slid her body back down his, taking his hardness into her hand, and lowering her head. Her mouth opens and her tongue flicks out, licking across the head and then down the shaft. She takes him fully in her mouth then, sucking up and down the length of him.

He moans, rich and deep down in his chest, as he watches her...showering him with such wonderful, loving attention. He felt so incredibly blessed. He shouldn't be here. And yet...he was. And she accepted him, knowing the truth about him. She loved him, needed him...wanted him. His heart felt like it would burst; it was so filled with love for her. He was bound to her, in this world and the next.

She continued her attention on him...loving to be able to give this to him. But she wanted more, needed more. She slowly lifted her head away from him.

"Don't stop..." he protested, voice thick with lust.

"I'm not stopping love...just moving," she assured him, as she crawled up his body again. She straddled his hips and rubbed herself against him. He could feel her wet heat. She reached down between them and took hold of him...bringing his hardness to her opening. Slowly she lowered herself onto him, taking him into her body. She paused, laying on him, trailing kisses along his chest. Her mouth found his nipple and her tongue lapped across it, teasing it to hardness. He moaned deep in his chest, rumbling against her...and his hips rocked upwards. She teased him a little longer, then sat back up.

She began to ride him, rising up off of him, then slowly sliding back down his shaft. His hands grasped her hips, helping to guide her up and down...trying to get deeper into her. He watched her face, filled with passion and love for him. He could see where their bodies joined, where they became one. It was amazing.

Her movements increased, faster and harder, as she neared climax. She could sense he was close too. The feelings and sensations they shared were bringing them together...closer and closer to bliss. She felt the fire of desire overtake her as her climax hit. He did as well...and thrust once more into her deeply, exploding within her.

She collapsed on top of him when it was over. "I love you so much..." she panted.

"I love you too. I feel...alive again when I am inside you like this," he said softly.

"I feel...almost guilty. Doing this while so many lost their lives today. But I needed you. Needed to feel proof that you are here with me," she explained.

"I understand. It's all right...to keep living," he told her quietly.

"You know...you should follow your own advice," she said sleepily.

"But I'm not..." he began.

"Don't say that...you are. You hurt...you bleed....you breathe, eat and sleep. And hopefully you even created a new life. To me....that is living," she replied softly.

He lay there thinking, about what she said. Maybe he was being too hard on himself. Maybe he would try...living. He started to say something to her...but realized she had fallen asleep on him. He put his arms around her...holding her as she slept...still one with her body.

Sometime, a few hours before dawn, Marina awoke with a scream...startling Auron awake as well. As he became aware of his surroundings, he saw her sitting up, crying. He held her as she sobbed, trying to comfort her. "What is it?" he asked her softly.

"I saw it...I watched as Jecht gave up his life to become a Fayth....I saw him turn on Braska...killing him. I felt your grief...the boiling hot anger you felt at the futility of their deaths...I saw Yunalesca striking you....hurting you. And then I felt your remorse and sadness at leaving me...I felt you die!" she sobbed against his chest, her hot tears falling against his skin.

"I am sorry. Through our link...you're seeing my memories," he explained softly.

She pulled away from him roughly, jumped out of bed and began pacing. "I should have been there with you. I could have helped you...healed you. You know I could have! My healing powers were nearly as strong as Braska's, even then! You shouldn't have died alone...so close to me! How can I ever forgive myself...knowing you were so close...and I could do nothing! I should have been..." she raged...tears still falling.

"You're wrong...not about the healing...I know your powers were strong...Braska taught you well. You can't blame yourself. You had to stay behind...Yuna needed you. If you'd gone...where would she have been? If you died, taking our child with you....I would never have forgiven myself. Can't you see that? Don't you understand?"

She stopped her pacing, and stood silently...looking at the floor for a few moments, then reluctantly met his gaze. "Yes...I do," she answered.

He held his hand out to her. "Rina...come," he commanded softly. She couldn't resist his call, and settled back down on the bed beside him. He wrapped his arms around her...still trying to give her comfort.

"Please don't leave me. I can't go through that again. Once in my life is all I can handle! If it makes me selfish, holding you here as an unsent...then so be it. But please don't leave me again!" she pleaded.

"Marina, look at me..." he commanded. She lifted her head and her eyes met his beautiful amber brown one. "You aren't 'holding' me here. I want to stay with you. I know it is probably wrong to hang on to the world of the living, when I should be dead. The promises I made in friendship kept me here. I thought after that I could leave. But then, our paths crossed again. I feel there must be a reason for that. There must be more for me still to do in this world, past fulfilling my promises. I have a new promise to fulfill now. To be here for you and our children. Not until you leave this world, will I." He placed his hand low on her stomach. "Please stop torturing yourself with those thoughts. It's not good for either of you."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I just...love you so much." She smiled. "You really are sure about this child, aren't you?"

"I am...hopeful. I missed so much. I hope I get a second chance to experience it," he answered.

"I hope so all well," she replied. "Auron?" she inquired as she snuggled back up against him.

"What?"

"Was it...painful for Braska? Was it...horrible?" she asked

"Why do you want to go there? Why ask questions like that?" Auron asked...annoyance creeping into his voice.

"He's my brother...I need to know!" she insisted.

"It...was. But he accepted it. And he held neither feelings of regret...nor any feelings of anger toward Jecht. He knew...at that point...it was out of Jecht's control. I hold no anger toward Jecht...he only did what he thought was right. My anger is with Yunalesca...and Yevon. And those who blindly sacrifice Summoner's for a lie. That is what we must end. No one else should die needlessly," he said forcefully.

"I...I understand. I realize...from what you said...Jecht is not responsible. It is probably hard for him, being in this state. We need to help him, I understand that now," she replied.

"Marina...we have a little time before we must leave...lay back down and rest with me," he said quietly. She settled back down into his arms and soon fell asleep in his embrace.

Sometime during the middle of the night, Abra was awoken by the sensation of being lifted out of her bed. Startled, she almost let out a scream, when she heard a familiar voice coming from the person who held her.

"Quiet little on, its me," Seymour whispered. "I just arrived and I needed you." He carried her to his room. He gently placed her in his bed, quickly removed his clothing and joined her.

"The operation was unsuccessful, as I had anticipated. I had to assist in a battle against sinspawn. The day has been...difficult. I need you...so much," he told her as he pulled her to him. He began kissing her, softly...then more urgently. When he finally released her for a breath...he spoke again.

"My original intent was to just lie here beside you...holding you close. But, after being close to you...I need more," he told her passionately. She could feel the evidence of that passion, rubbing against her naked hip. He moved above her, his leg slipping between hers, forcing open her thighs.

"Open up, little one. Let me in...I need to be inside you," he whispered roughly.

Her legs parted and he settled between between her thighs. He quickly found her entrance and sheathed himself in her roughly. His movements were frantic, harsh. She realized this time was for him, but she loved him, so she gave herself to him. But as he moved within her, the heat of passion began to grow.

"You feel...so good," he panted. Hearing and feeling his passion for her enflamed her...and when he came, thrusting deeply within her, she joined him...crying out his name.

He held her close to him when it was over, stroking her hair. Sadness filled her heart, knowing her time with him like this was growing short. If things went as he had planned, he would be married, to a summoner. And shortly after that he would be gone, his life given to defeat Sin. Tears filled her eyes and she hugged him tighter. "I love you...so much," she whispered.

He took her chin in his hand, lifting her head up to look into her eyes. "You mean...so very much to me. You are close to my heart little one. And I regret that you hurt in this way. But I am thankful for what you have given me. Your friendship, your love...and hopefully, a child," he assured her, before bending down to kiss her once more.

They held each other, enjoying every moment of the time they had left.

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