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	Chapter Three
	Rikku stayed close to Auron as the unusual pair made their way down the endless flights of stairs, turning her face away from the countless lustful stares that were sent in her direction by the brothel visitors. A blush staining her cheeks, the frightened girl shied away from one bold man who dared to touch her, a small, pitiful whimper drawn from her lips at the physical contact. “Has anyone seen to your needs yet?” His tone was suggestive and Rikku had to force herself not to vomit at the sight of his rotund belly hung over his belt, his putrid breath wafting unpleasantly over her face as his greasy hair swept unattractively to frame his lust-ridden face. “Guaranteed, I will keep you warm on this cold, lonely night.” She flinched as an arm was draped over her shoulders, pulling her closer to the person’s body. Calloused fingers began to trace her skin in a familiar manner; causing Rikku to exhale the deep breath than she had been unintentionally holding. Auron… This unexpected stranger had come to be her salvation. Beside her, Auron came to a sudden halt as he pulled Rikku against his chest, allowing her to bury her face in the crook of his neck. His hand falling to curl around her waist, the warrior glared down at the man who had touched her, causing him to cower; beads of perspiration breaking out on his forehead as he turned on his heel, almost tripping over his sandals in his haste to leave. Auron watched the man intently as he left, his lips twisted in a vicious snarl, the hand that was not holding Rikku to him drifting casually over the hilt of his infamous sword, Masamune. He turned his gaze upon the remnants of the men who still lingered in their presence, regarding each one imperiously before they too fled before his wrath. His expression softening, he turned his attention toward the shivering girl he held in his arms, lowering his face to level with her own. “Are you all right?” Auron asked gruffly. Rikku’s head rose at his soft words, the evidence of her unhappiness visible on her tear-stained countenance, nodding swiftly. Auron released her from his embrace, allowing Rikku to step back and readjust the coat around her slight frame. Wordlessly, the warrior placed a hand upon her shoulder, encouraging the girl to keep moving as together, they continued their descent. Finally coming to a halt in the main lobby, Auron cleared his throat to alert the manager of his arrival. Excusing himself from a preoccupied customer, the man who was responsible for the decline of so many young lives turned toward Auron, a wide grin spreading slowly across the swollen features of his face. He rubbed his fleshy hands together in anticipation, knowing that tonight, his payment would be vast. Motioning for Auron to come forward, the warrior strode further into the interior of the crumbling room, his expression neutral and impassive as he regarded the man’s reaction to Rikku standing huddled behind him, the enchanting, emerald swirls of her eyes barely visible over the confines of his coat. Within seconds, the manager’s face had turned dangerously red with barely-restrained anger, his small, watery eyes narrowing considerably with contempt for the collected man who stood before him, invoking his wrath. Anticipating his fellow male’s anger, the warrior swiftly moved to stand before Rikku, his large frame covering Rikku’s petite form from the view of her “employer”. Auron could feel Rikku trembling behind him; her slight form visibly shaking as she was subjected to the impact of cruelty reflected in the man’s cold, dead eyes, forced to relive the horror of the trauma suffered by the twisted heart of this ruthless man. The warrior could feel Rikku clutching tightly to the soft material of his vest; could anticipate the deep grooves in the delicate skin of her palms as the girl’s head fell forward onto his shoulder, her silent tears falling steadily to dampen his cloth covering his torso. Seething with anger, Auron stared remorselessly down at the man whose corrupted, blackened heart had mercilessly defiled the lives of countless women; their innocence ravished and their bodies left broken, existing only as hollow shells. His fist clenching rapidly by his side, his long-deprived fingers itched for the hilt of his beloved sword. He wanted nothing more than to end the owner’s miserable existence for all that he had succumbed women to. As if sensing her protector’s thoughts, Rikku’s timid hand reached forward of its own accord to settle awkwardly over the prominent muscles in Auron’s arm. Even through the haze of his furious, passionate rage, Rikku’s presence seemed to seep through to his consciousness and the warrior turned to acknowledge his charge, his eyes softening momentarily. Despite the horrors that this young woman had been subjected to, Rikku’s emotion-filled eyes spoke volumes. She possessed wisdom that surpassed that of any other female of Auron’s acquaintance. Squeezing her hand in reassurance, Auron nodded toward the damp, rotting wall where he wished Rikku to remain until his business tonight was settled. Sensing her hesitation and profound apprehension, the warrior’s lips curved upwards in the briefest and rarest of smiles. His large, calloused hand settling protectively at the girl’s waist, he stooped slightly, his lips poised at the delicate skin of her ear. “No matter what happens, I am not leaving without you tonight.” Rikku turned her gaze away from the scene before her, closing her eyes as she tried to block out the image of the argument that was taking place, wishing that she could drown out the angry conversation as easily. Unnoticed by the pair, Rikku remained huddled in a corner, Auron’s coat dwarfing her slight form. Flinching at the violent gestures, she did her best to ignore the men who were now quarrelling over her. For a little over three hours, she had remained here at Auron’s bidding. Shivering with the immense cold that permeated up through the bare floorboards beneath her, Rikku’s cheeks were tinged pink with embarrassment as she sought to conceal the clothing that gave her little warmth and modesty. Turning gracious eyes upon the daring warrior who had unexpectedly come to her rescue tonight, Rikku struggled to comprehend what mysterious force had compelled her to trust him. Her father always told her that she trusted too easily; but ever since her arrival in the brothel, Rikku learned the hard way that the only person who she could willingly trust was herself. And yet, when someone had shown her a little kindness, impulsively, she had clung like a dependent child to this stranger, effectively allowing him to help her when before, her infamous stubborn attitude would have prevented such. Rikku knew, however, that Auron was unlike any other man who she encountered at the brothel. Where many men would have – and in fact, had already – taken advantage of her vulnerable situation, Auron had not treated Rikku like a sex toy, but instead treated her like an equal. Although deprived of sight, Auron was able to delve into her soul and realise that unlike many of the willing women who had resigned themselves to their fate, Rikku did not sell her body through her own free will. She was a prisoner in her own mind. Casting a furtive glance in Rikku’s direction, his eyes softening momentarily in compassion for the female, Auron turned his attention back upon the brothel owner, barely-oppressing the urge to strike him. Reaching into his robes, he extracted Gil, and placed it upon the counter to placate the man. “I will offer you twenty thousand Gil so that you might release this woman from your services.” Although the temptation to simply pocket the substantial money offered resided clearly in his eyes, the brothel owner sneered, his fleshy face becoming vicious and twisted in the weak light that issued overhead. “I will not allow her to leave these premises. She is royalty, and is in my service. She will remain here until the day she dies.” Finally, Auron’s ire overpowered him. He drew his blade upon the owner, watching with some satisfaction as he began to perspire heavily, whimpers drawn from his trembling lips as his death loomed ominously before him. “I will not allow her to be subjected to such horrors. You do not possess the right to keep her. I have been tolerant tonight, but no longer. If you value your disgraced life, you will release Rikku into my service.” He could vaguely hear Rikku’s voice in the background, her frail hands tugging insistently at his clothes as she earnestly attempted to prevent the warrior from carrying out his execution. However, he paid her no heed as his attention continued to focus intently upon the terrified man before him, prepared to deal swift justice. With a wail of terror that invoked no pity in Auron’s heart, the brothel owner flung himself at the warrior’s feet, pleading for his life to be spared. Whilst he held little remorse for his would-be victim who deserved to die for the countless lives that he had wasted, he allowed Rikku’s frantic voice to seep through to his consciousness, and he turned to the equally terrified girl, suddenly taken aback by the change that had taken place. For in the enchanting depths of her emerald eyes, Auron found compassion there for the brutal man who had single-handedly destroyed Rikku’s happiness. Despite the suffering endured at his hands, this remarkable woman silently wished for his worthless life to be spared. Although Auron was a man who acted solely upon impulse and disagreed with the fact that the owner’s life should be spared, he understood the message that was written clearly in Rikku’s expressive eyes: she had seen enough violence and torture on her account, and did not wish for anything further to occur. Reluctantly, Auron sheathed his blade. With one final disgusted look at the miserable heap before him, he placed a tender hand upon Rikku’s shoulder, guiding her toward the exit, and together, they disappeared into the starless night.
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