Chapter 5 - Chapter Four-"Kilika"

Tidus finally caught up with Lulu, he turned, Yuna is comforting several people near the edge of a broken dock, beyond, under the water many make-shift caskets sit. Tidus looked to Lulu, “Uh, what’s a ‘sending’? Are we going somewhere?” Lulu sighed, shaking her head, she looked to him, “You truly all clueless. Are you sure it’s your memory that’s the problem?” Tidus shrugged, Lulu sighed and continued on, “The dead need guidance.” Tidus looked puzzled at this, he opened his mouth to say something but Lulu sighed angrily, obviously annoyed, “Filled with grief over their own death, they refuse to face their fate.” Tidus nodded, “They yearn to live on, and resent those still alive. You see, they envy the living. And in time, that envy turns to anger, even hate. Should these souls remain in Spira, they become fiends, who prey on the living. Sad, isn’t it?” Before Tidus could respond, she went on. “The sending takes them to the Far plane, where they may rest in peace.”

“Summoners do this?” Lulu nodded, pointing to the water. Yuna had taken off her boots and take out her staff, She slowly stepped forward onto the water, her feet not sinking into it, but rather, walking on it as if it were made of something solid. The sun had just began to set, casting a pink glow to the water, making it the color of champagne. Yunas own skin had been cast in a golden light, accentuating her beauty. She reached the coffins in the water, she began to spin the staff slowly around her, she bend down, coming up in a circle, spinning the staff in one hand. She grasped it with both her hands and shoved it forward in the air, her body following, and as she twisted and turned in her dance of the death, the orange fire in the torches on the docks all broke out into blue bell flames.

A haunting sound filled the air as the Hymn of the Fayth began to come from the water, as Yuna turned, the water exploded up, lifting her five feet into the air, she danced on the pillar of water as pyre-flies burst from the coffins, flying around Yuna. The mother from Sins attack, who was still alive, fell to her knees, crying out in despair as her children were sent to the Far plane. People on the dock cried and Tidus watched, soon the fire turned back to normal and Yuna was let down onto the water, she walked back to the people. “It must be tough, being a Summoner.” Lulu looked to Tidus, sighing again, “Yuna choose her own path. She knew from the beginning what it meant. All we can do is protect her along the way, until the end.” Tidus blinked several times, “Until the…end? What’s the end?” Everyone on the dock had turned and looked to them.

Lulu shook her head again, rubbing her left temple, “Until she defeats sin.” Lulu let her hand drop and she walked over to Yuna, smiling at her. “I hope…I hope I did okay.” Lulu put her hands on Yunas shoulders, nodding “You did very well! They’ve reached the Far plane by now. But…no tears next time, hm?” Yuna nodded and smiled, Tidus watched them walk off, he just leaned back, watching the people leave the dock. His eyes met the sunset and he smiled weakly.

“I wished there would never be a next time. No more people being killed by Sin. No more sendings for Yuna. Everyone stood there, watching her. It was strange, and somehow…horrifying. I never wanted to see it again.”

***

Tidus slowly walked down the stairs of the hotel he was staying in, he stepped out onto the dock, stretching his arms far above his head. One of the Aurochs ran up to him, “Hey! You awake? Cap’ n Wakka’s waitin’ for you!” The guy ran off, Tidus followed close behind and soon they found Wakka, he turned and smiled at Tidus. “Ah! There you are!” Wakka turned to his team mates, “Besaid Aurochs, huddle!” They all came to him, lining up. “On to the temple, we pray for victory!” The Aurochs ran off, Wakka turned to Tidus and smiled widely. “High Summoner O’Halland used to live in the Kilika temple here.” Tidus grinned, obviously clueless. “Yep, Lord O’Halland was once a great blitzer, ya know?”

“Wakka…” Tidus looked to his face, “Hm?” Tidus sighed and looked down, “Praying for victory’s good and all…but is this right?” Wakka tilted his head to the side, crossing his arms, “Something wrong with enjoying Blitzball?” Tidus shrugged, looking back up, “Is this really the time?” Wakka nodded, a huge smile coming onto his face, “This is the only time! The players fight with all their strength: the fans cheer for their favorite team. They forget pain, suffering…only the game matters!” Tidus nodded, understanding, “That’s why blitz has been around for so long, least, that’s what I think.” Tidus nodded again, holding up his hands, walking backwards, “Whatever you say.” Wakka pumped his fist into the air, “Let’s play…and win! Right?” Tidus nodded firmly, “Right!” Wakka pointed off to the horizon, “Temple’s beyond the jungle there. Let’s go!” Tidus nodded and began walking off.

Tidus and Wakka worked their way along the docks, stopping at a broken down hut, a small girl was sitting in the rubble crying. Suddenly, the rubble began shaking, Tidus leapt forward, grabbing the girl and leaping off the rubble, it dropped into the water just as he had left, and the girl got up, sniffled a few times, and then ran into the nearest hut. Tidus got up and dusted off his clothes. He and Wakka began walking again, off into the distance; they stepped through a small gate into a wooded area. Tidus and Wakka approached Lulu, Yuna, and Kimahri, Lulu was rubbing her left temple again. Wakka looked to Lulu, “What’s up?” Lulu sighed, looking towards them, then she focused her red eyes on Tidus, “Yuna’s saying she wants you with us.” Tidus looked confused, “Huh?”

“I want to ask you to be my guardian.” Wakka and Tidus’ eyes both got wide, they looked to Yuna, Lulu went back to rubbing her temple. “Yuna! What? This is no time for jokes, ya?” Yuna crossed her arms stubbornly, “Hey may be a blitzball whiz kid, but up against fiends, he’s a newbie.” Yuna sighed and looked down, then back up to Wakka, “Not a Guardian, then…I just want him near by.” Tidus stepped towards her, “What? What do you mean?” Yuna looked to Lulu, casting her a pleading glance, then back towards Tidus, “Its just that…well…” Lulu stepped beside Yuna, looking to Tidus, “We’re all going to the temple anyway, can’t this wait until later?” Yuna nodded to Lulu, then looked back to Tidus, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…” Tidus held up his hands, offering a weak smile, “There’s nothing to be sorry about, I’m not just really sure what’s going on here.” Yuna nodded, “My Apologies.” Lulu looked to the men, pointing to the trail, “Go ahead, I must discuss something with Yuna.” The guys nodded and walked up the trail, Lulu put her hand on Yunas shoulder and looked into her eyes. “I see the way you look at him…”

Yuna avoided Lulu’s eyes, “I don’t look at him in any way…” Lulu sighed, “Don’t lead him on, Yuna, you know it can never be…” Lulu turned and walked onwards, Yuna watched her friend go, saying silently to herself “It’s the truth, you know it Yuna, like the precepts say, ‘Deny thy self happiness for the happiness of the country, Summoners live and breath to defeat Sin, and will sacrifice all, even love, to do so.’” She let a single tear fall, catching it in her palm, she clutched her fist, walking forwards, a smile spreading across her face. She walked on, crossing her arms over her chest, they finally reached the stairwell that lead up to the temple.

Tidus looks up the great stone stairway, looking to Wakka, “These stone steps have a history, you know?” Tidus looked back up the stairs, smiling, “Yep, Lord O’Halland trained here at his peak.” Two of the Aurochs were stretching out, they laughed, nodding towards Tidus. Tidus looked to them, grinning, “A race, huh? Think you can beat me?” They stood up, nodding again; Wakka looked to Yuna, “Yuna, if you would.” She nodded and they all lined up, Yuna stood beside them, holding out her hand, “Ready?” She suddenly turned and ran up the stairs, giggling all the way. “Hey! Hey!” Wakka and the guys ran after her, Lulu grinned, laughing lightly. Suddenly, the two Aurochs came running down the stairs, past them, Wakka came, waving his arm, “Everyone! Quick! Sinspawn!” Lulu and Kimahri ran up the stairs, emerging on a plateau like area.

Two large, green tentacles waved in the air, a huge, bulbous sprout protruded from the ground. Lulu rushed forward, pointing her hand at it, one of the tentacles slashed at her wrist, wrapping a green, stringy substance around it. She pointed her other hand and cried out “FIRE!” a plume of fire exploded out of her hand and slammed into the tentacle, it dropped dead to the ground, she quickly spun around. “ELEMENTAL FURY! FIRE!” bursts of fire exploded out of the ground as Lulu glowed bright red, the last tentacle hit the ground, the bulb began to shudder as it opened, revealing the fiend inside. The fiend shot out several spikes which hit into Lulus arm, she fell to her knees, holding her arm. “LULU!” Tidus burst up the stairs, unsheathing his sword, he spun on the ground, slamming it into the fiends face.

Plumes of pyre-flies erupted out of the bulbous shape, Yuna had already ran to Lulu, pouring a shimmering liquid out of a bottle onto her arm, the spikes dissolved and her wounds disappeared. Lulu stood up with the aid of Wakka. Tidus stood there, breathing heavily, Wakka walked over to Tidus, cuffing his shoulder with his hand, “Sorry ‘bout that! Hoped to break you in a little slower.” Tidus grinned, catching his breath, “Being a Guardian’s tiring.” Wakka patted his shoulder gently, “You handled yourself pretty well; you got talent.” Tidus shrugged, “Nah…” He looked to the huge holes left by the Sinspawn.

“So, what are those ‘Sinspawn’ anyway?” Lulu stepped up, rubbing her arm, her dress already sewed up, “Fiends, they fall from Sins body, and are left behind in his wake.” Wakka nodded, “Leave ‘em alone and Sin comes back for ‘em, you gotta be quick!” Tidus nodded, they began to walk up another set of stairs, Tidus watched Yuna from behind, her hair bounce, her shoulders held up high, her back slender. He snapped out of it as Wakka, shook his arm, laughing.

“That moment when Wakka told me I had talent in battle…I think that was when I seriously considered becoming a Guardian.”

As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, Wakka spoke up, “So, uh…they got fiends in Zanarkand too?” Tidus nodded, looking to Wakka, “Just a few, it’s a big deal when one shows up, though.” Tidus thought for a moment, his eyes widening, his face getting defensive, “Hey! Since when have you believed me about Zanarkand, anyway?” Wakka shrugged, holding up his hands, “I’ve been thinking, maybe people Sin gets to don’t die. Maybe Sin carries ‘em through time. Like a thousand years through time. And then maybe, one day, they just pop back, see?” Lulu was already all over this, her face turning red, her eyes turned from stern to furious, her hands clenched into tight fists, “Amazing! Simply amazing…”

Wakka looked to her, she looked right back, poor Wakka looked like a dear caught in the head lights. “You make one theory after another, refusing to face the simple truth! Sin didn’t take Chappu anywhere! Sin crushed him and left him on the D’jose shore!” Wakka was frowning, he tried desperately to not look at her eyes, but he couldn’t he was transfixed, “Your brother won’t just pop back! Oh, and one more thing” her eyes traveled to Tidus, he was stuck in place as well, “No matter how much you want it” she looked back to Wakka, “No one can take Chappu’s place!” her eyes traveled back to Tidus, “No one can replace Sir Jecht, for that matter.” Then her eyes settled on Yuna, “And there’s no replacement for Lord Braska, either. Its Pointless to think about it, and sad.” She turned, her belts clanking; she walked up the stairs the rest of the way.

Wakka sat on the steps, looking to the sky, talking to himself more then anyone else really, “I…I could never be what Chappu was.” He stood up, looking to Tidus, “Well, stuff happens, best not to worry.” Tidus nodded, they walked up the stairs the rest of the way, Tidus watched Wakkas face.

“Wakka, Lulu, and Wakka’s brother Chappu, something had happened between them a long time ago, I was sure of it. Well, whatever it was, it was none of my business, that’s for sure. Best not go there.”

They reached the temple, a cave like structure with orbs of fire protruding off of the stone walls. They entered the main circle; the ground underneath them had orange fire burning beneath glass. Three men approached the group, obviously Blitzball players, Wakka nodded to the one in the middle, “You here to pray for victory, too?” The player shook his head, grinning cockily, “Us? Pray? Who needs to pray? The Luca Goers always win!” Wakka rolled his eyes, “Oh yeah? Then why are you here?” The player to the left shook his head, grinning in the same way as his obvious boss, “We’ve been praying for some competition!” The three laughed, then the boss spoke up again, “So, what’s your goal this time? You gonna ‘do your best’ again? Ha! It’s too bad your best isn’t good enough! Why even bother showing up?” Tidus stepped forward.

“This time, we play to win!” The boss stepped up to Tidus, “Oh! Play away!” they started walking away and the boss called back, “Just remember even kids can play, boys!” Wakka turned, looking back towards them, “See you in the finals!” Tidus turned, patting Wakkas shoulder, “We’ll beat them. We have too!” Yuna stepped up to Tidus, placing a tender hand on his forearm, “You know that team?” Tidus looked to her face, “Putting people down…They’re just as bad as my old man!” Yuna stepped back, shaking her head “But Sir Jecht was a kind, gentle man!” Tidus shrugged, “Well, not my Jecht.”

“Even ten years after he left…just thinking about my old man got me angry. But maybe it was just my way of keeping him…nah.”

They all slowly entered the temple, which was much different then Besaid, it smelt of the beach, clean, soothing, four pillars stood around the center of the room, fire at the tops, illuminating the statues of the circular room, Wakka slowly walked over to one of the statues, he bowed down, “Lord O’Halland, guide our feet.” Tidus walked up beside him, kneeling down, he prayed silently. Suddenly, the door to the Cloister opened, a scantly clad woman and a large, muscle-head man walked out. She made her way over to Yuna, Wakka and Tidus stood up, looking to her, Lulu crossed her arms over her chest, rolling her eyes at the woman’s absurd apparel. “A Summoner, are you?” Yuna smiled, nodding, “My name is Yuna-From the Isle of Besaid.” The woman nodded, “Dona. So, you’re the High Summoner Braska’s daughter. That’s quite a name to live up to.” She cast a glance around at Yunas Guardians.

“”My, my, my…And all these…people are your Guardians? My, what a rabble!” She looked from face to face, then back to Yuna, “As I recall, Lord Braska only had two Guardians. Quality over quantity, my dear, what ever were you thinking?” Yuna’s eyes widened, her eyes getting slighting glossy, “I have need of only one Guardian. Right, Barthello?” the muscle-head man nodded yes. Yuna waved her arm back towards her Guardians, “I only have as many Guardians as I have people I can trust. I trust them all with my life! To have so many Guardians is a joy, and an honor! Even more so than being my fathers daughter.” Yuna crossed her arms, “Of course, I would never think of questioning your ways, either. So, Lady Dona, I ask of you: Please, leave us in peace.”

Dona rolled her eyes, “You do what you want.” She looked over to Barthello, “Barthello, we’re leaving” They abruptly turned and walked out of the temple. Tidus looked to Yuna, she smiled at him, watching his face, he thought to himself, “A Guardian is someone a Summoner can rely on. Someone she can trust with her life.”

“I wondered, did Yuna feel that way about me…what’s she smiling about?”

The group slowly walked up the stairs to the Cloister, a small circular room with a platform was all that could be seen, Tidus looked around, confusedly, Wakka pointed to the platform, “The Fayth is below! Lets do it!” Lulu nodded, stepping onto the elevator, Yuna looped her arm in Lulus, “Kimahri, Wakka, ready?” They both nodded a boarded the elevator, Tidus went to step on but Kimahri pushed him back, “Hey! What gives?” Lulu smiled, “You’re not a Guardian yet.” Yuna smiled, nodding, “We’ll be back as soon as we can, okay?” The elevator goes down without him, “Oh! Sure! Soon like ‘tomorrow’ soon, I bet!” The elevator comes back up, empty, Tidus turned and began to walk out, except his exit was barred by Barthello and Dona, “Where’s Yuna?” Tidus pointed to the elevator carelessly, “Then why are you here?” Tidus held up his hands.

“Hey, I’m not a Guardian, so I’m not supposed to go in, right?” Dona grinned, “Hmm. Not a Guardian you say?” Barthello picked Tidus up with ease, “Hey! Wait! Ah! Lemme go!” Barthello threw Tidus onto the elevator, “Hey! What’s the big idea?” Dona grinned, stepping close to the elevator, pushing the small glyph with her foot, “Just a little game.” The elevator steadily went down, dropping him off in a small corridor which lead to large doors. Tidus slowly walked towards them “This is bad…really bad.” He reached the doors, putting his hand on the handle, “Only Guardians allowed, and I’m sure no Guardian.” He sighed and pushed the doors in, “Well, I guess its too late now.” He slowly stepped into a circular room, Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri were standing in it, the entrance to the Chamber of the Fayth was at the far side, as usual.

Wakka’s eyes went wide when he saw Tidus, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Tidus held his hands up, “It was Dona and that big muscle-head man!” Lulus strict voice cut through the silence, “Yuna will be the one to suffer the consequences!” Tidus looked from Lulu to Wakka, “The consequences?” Wakka pointed to Tidus, “She could be excommunicated!” Tidus looked to Wakka, “Just wait.” Tidus nodded, “So, what’s in there anyway?” Wakka looked to the entrance to the chamber, “The Fayth, remember?” Tidus nodded, obviously clueless, yet again, “Oh yeah, that thing. Right.” Lulu shook her head, rubbing her left temple again, “The Fayth are people who gave their lives to battle Sin. Yevon took their souls, willingly given from their still-living bodies.”

Tidus cocked his head to the side, “Huh?” Lulu sighed again, “Now they live forever, trapped in statues. But when a Summoner beckons, the souls of the Fayth emerge once again. That’s what we call an Aeon.” Tidus nodded to the door, “All that in this room? S-so what’s Yuna doing in there?” Wakka looked to the door also, “She prays with all her heart for a way to defeat Sin.” Tidus nodded, the door to the Fayth chamber slid up and open, Yuna walked out, kneeling down in the center of the room. Lulu knelt down and rubbing her shoulders gently. The hymn of the Fayth echoed from the chamber.

“There was something I didn’t tell anyone else that day. That song we heard there, in the temple…I knew it from my childhood. It was proof that Spira and Zanarkand were connected somehow. At least to me it was. Maybe that’s why, suddenly, I felt like…I just wanted to go home. I tried to say something, to tell them. But the words wouldn’t come.”
The group left the temple, settling outside, Tidus flashed back to when he was in Zanarkand, the house boat, the crowds, the fame, the lights, he missed it all so much.

“I thought I had put my feelings for Zanarkand behind me. But they were there, and they grew inside me, bigger, and bigger, till I was just ready to burst.”

Tidus had gotten so engrossed with the flash back that he hadn’t realized everyone except Yuna had already gone back to Kilika, she looked to him, concerned, “Are…are you okay?” Tidus looked down, “I…I don’t know.” Yuna put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently, “What do you want to do?” Tidus sighed and looked up to her face, “To scream out loud.” All the sudden, Tidus burst out screaming, Yuna jumped back, laughing slightly, almost nervously, then she joined him for a moment and they both burst out laughing, they headed back down the stairs and to Kilika, all the way to the dock, stepping onto a new boat, the S.S. Wino, Yuna turns, as the boat set sails, she watches the sun set on the town of Kilika.

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