*This is my tribute to Braska, whom I love just as much as Auron. He gets no attention! Okay, this story is probably over-dramatized, but I had to do it to make it interesting. The opening lies are from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but I changed them to fit my story.

And in case anyone is unsure, Kiri's real name is Kirie. It's Japanese, and no, it's not the same name. Kiri is pronounced – Kir-ee, while Kirie is pronounced Kir-ee-a (with a long A sound) I just wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn't the same name cause that will come into play later.

And I'm not sure how often this will get updated, but it is planned out. This is just something I'm toying with. Again, if there is anything too terribly wrong with the info (even though there is so little on Braska) please let me know. And let me know if this doesn't make sense.

Okay. That is all!*

Two nations, both alike in dignity,

 In fair Spira where we lay our scene.

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny;

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of star-crossed lovers deny their birthright,

For a love much stronger than blood…

Birth of Love

Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy…

"Outrageous!" shouted Lukoru, as he paced back and forth in the council chamber.

"So, it is true," muttered Cid, leader and restorer of the Al Bhed nation. "Those damn Yevonites think they're runnin' things!"

"We have gone through much grief to restore our people and give them the self-reliance they need, only to have it destroyed by this refusal!" shouted Lukoru.

"Have peace, my brothers," said Dekari, the oldest member of the council. "There is still hope. There is one priest left that has not voted on the matter. He is the seventh. He will be the deciding vote."

"Then we should "secure" his vote as we have others," said Mariena.

"We must convince him that the celebration of the Calm is for all of Spira! Lady Yocum defeated Sin for all Spira! Not just the Yevonites! They have no right to deny us the celebration!" said Platok.

Hearty agreement arose from the council.

"The last priest is the youngest of his kind. He will be easy to persuade… but how to reach him on such short notice?" wondered Dekari aloud.

"It's already planned," said Cid triumphantly. "The vote is cast tomorrow, the operation is set for tonight. We will assure our rights, or the Yevonite ministry will suffer!"

A roar arose in the chamber for their leader's declaration. Shouts of agreement emitted from every mouth, all except for Dekari. He knew Cid was quite the bold leader. He had not been in power long, but had regrouped the Al Bhed people from a twenty year separation and had quite a loyal following. Through all of this, he was still rather young. Cid rested at the age of twenty-eight, and his wisdom was usually blinded by hardcore nationalism. Though Dekari had great hopes for this headstrong Al Bhed, he wouldn't put it past the man to try something drastic without thinking. The wise one hoped that Cid would not try something that he, and the rest of the Al Bhed nation, would regret.

Cid stood up and looked to the man beside him as the others in the council spoke of their upcoming victory over the Yevonites.

"Ready the airship," he instructed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She took in a deep breath in the silence of the airship. Her uniform held closely to her, her long blond hair falling across her shoulders as she began to pull it up and under a helmet. Her uniform held strict Al Bhed decoration with bright colors and creative symbols. Al Bheds could be easily distinguished from among other races because of this; they were proud. Taking a deep breath, she heard the door open behind her and saw his reflection in the mirror as he stepped inside.

"We'll be getting there soon," Cid said. "You prepared?"

She took another breath and released it with her speech.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she said, putting on her goggles.

"Course you are!" Cid said. "We're blood! Course you're ready!"

"I'm sure I was your first choice," said his sister, looking back to the mirror.

"Course not!" Cid said bluntly. "But I said I'd include you didn't I? I put you on the front lines!"

"Gee, thanks for the confidence," she said, smoothing the rubber over her stomach, though knowing he was only joking.

"You're welcome," he said. Then he became serious. "This is important, ya' know. This whole operation is riding on you. You have to make that priest listen to you! If he won't…"

"Change of plan?" she asked.

"You're going to have to kill him," Cid told her, holding out a small Al Bhed dagger.

 "Are you sure that's a smart thing to do?" she questioned, her hands on her hips.

"Don't do that," he scolded, turning. "You look like mom!"

She returned her stance to normal, but kept her train of thought.  

"You know, a Yevonite death by an Al Bhed would look really bad," she said. "Especially a priest. You want acceptance? We'll never get it!"

"They have to learn they can't do that to us!" said Cid. "They can't pretend like we don't exist! We can't threaten them and then take no course of action! You don't threaten to punish a dog and then turn around and give it a treat! Action must be taken!"

She stood silently, closing her eyes a moment in thought. She understood his point, but she was still right.

"Kirie," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "This is for all the Al Bhed. You are doing something important. Having second thoughts?" he asked.

"Well…" she trailed.

"I got other people wanting to do this job, Kiri. I picked you cause you're my sister… and I believe in ya'., not just cause it's a nice thing to do. What do ya' say? Even the score with those self absorbed Yevonites?"

Kiri smiled.

"You worry about those boys who are supposed to get me in," she said. "I'll take care of the rest."

Cid smiled.

"That's my baby sister!" he said, giving her chin a squeeze.

"You know I hate that," she warned.

Cid laughed heartily as he exited the room, leaving Kirie alone with her knife and reflection. Kill a Yevonite? She didn't like the sound of that. It wasn't as though she really had a problem with it, but an assassination made by the Al Bhed would be bad news for them all. They were already hated. An eighteen year old Al Bhed girl also didn't need to be sneaking into the holy chambers of the temple, but Kiri was strong in resolve; she would do anything for her people. Even… kill… if it came down to it.

Tightening up her helmet and pulling on her gloves, she made her way to the platform. Her tall, thin form would make it easy to slip about inside the temple. She sucked in a deep breath and simply tried to keep in mind that, if she was careful, there would be no consequences. She touched the knife to her side… and hoped that she wouldn't need it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The temple in Bevelle was always lit up at night and open for anyone who might need to come and search for answers. The place was guarded, by not heavily, by a few monks and warriors. Each guard had a specific position – which was all accounted for by the Al Bhed – and every door was numbered. Al Bhed spies had discovered that this young priest was present at the temple and doing his duties at night, more specifically studying the scrolls in a far holy chamber. His exact location was known, and every door and guard was reckoned for. Yes; this would be an easy victory for the Al Bhed. 

Dropping agilely down on the rooftop, Kiri waited for two other Al Bheds to accompany her there. Peering down, she saw two warrior monks standing outside the front, talking quietly. This temple was the largest of its kind. This place was where the Maesters of Yevon resided. Though the Maesters were higher than the priests, they had washed their hands of this matter in order to deal with more important things. They had agreed to accept whatever decision the priests had made for the safety of all people.

Of the seven priests, three had decided firmly against the Al Bhed attending the festival. The reasons were unknown to the Al Bhed, but they didn't take kindly when they heard. Three more priests had sided with the Al Bhed, saying that they deserve the right to be here just as anyone else. Of course, this was only after the Al Bhed had "persuaded" them to vote. The final priest had until tomorrow to cast his vote, and the Al Bhed were going to make sure they got it.

The priest had surely spent much time in the temple, praying for what his answer should be. Kiri sneered at the thought. Why did these people always have to answer to Yevon? Wasn't it a burden? Why couldn't they simply be… free? They didn't have to answer to anyone.

She didn't have much time to dwell on these thoughts. Seeing their chance, the men beside her released machina from their wrists, which latched onto the guards below and rendered them unconscious quickly. Before the guards even hit the ground, the two men had jumped and caught them, dragging them off into the bushes.

Kiri held her place, watching the area for more as two more Al Bhed dropped down from the small ship that had transported them. This time, a man and woman flanked Kiri and as the signal was given from below, the three of them jumped quickly and hurried into the temple. A monk guarding the trials almost caught sight of them, but he was taken quickly by a machina as well and caught before he hit the floor.

Kiri and the other Al Bhed woman reached into their belts and withdrew small round mechanisms. Kiri walked to the entrance to the trials while the other woman, called Genervi, walked to an adjacent priest's chamber. They placed the objects on the doors and pressed the small red buttons on each. These particular mechanisms were some of the Al Bheds oldest tricks. They were used to keep doors held. They worked quite well. Yevonites missed out on so much. They were forbidden to use machina.

The male Al Bhed drug the monk over to the side and he and Genervi both followed Kiri to the second priest's chamber. The man would be through these doors and down the hall in the library of the teachings. They knew exactly where he would be… and they knew he would be alone…

Kiri opened the doors silently and she stepped in quickly as her accomplices sealed the door. She would be getting out a different way. After that, the man and woman retreated to the outside, where the others joined them. Al Bheds hardly ever left another alone, but this situation had to be done with proper care. They could not risk being caught.

Now, Kiri was alone.

She walked down the corridor with confidence and approached the large wooden door. She lifted a ring strung around her neck and kissed it for courage and nerve. This would surely be a difficult endeavor.

Putting out the torches in the hall, she ventured to crack the door slightly and peer inside. She saw a shadow cast on the wall of the corridor, lined with books and lit with many candles. Feeling no threat on this side of the room, the Al Bhed snuck inside carefully, closing the door as quietly as possible.

The man studying quietly didn't lift his head. Acting quickly, she made her way down the aisles of books and circled around the man without his notice, slipping through the shadows. She wondered for a moment how exactly she should approach him. She had practiced many things. Perhaps she should go with the 'startling demands' approach. She should approach him directly and abruptly, putting her foot down and making her demands so that he would be so baffled by her appearance he would stutter his way through surrender and promise his vote. Yes. That seemed right.

Stepping into an aisle and beginning to approach behind him from the left side, she let her footsteps fall silent, planning to catch him off guard with her abrupt voice.

"Tuh'd suja, Yevonite!" she said, coming quickly from the shadows. "I have a request and will not…"

Her voice froze in her throat and she was forced to stop abruptly in her path. She swallowed hard as she saw him standing there – as he lifted his striking blue eyes to her. He hadn't even flinched at her sudden appearance, yet he had caught her off guard. He was so… young… that had come unexpectedly. No one had told her…

He continued to stare at her, holding out the scroll before him, not intimidated in the slightest. She shook her head suddenly. This wasn't the start she had imagined. She had to convince him that she was serious.

"I come on behalf of the Al Bhed," she said, holding her ground.

"Yes?" he asked, awaiting her proposal and not the least bit worried.

She couldn't speak for another moment. His voice… those eyes…

She scolded herself mentally. Stop it Kiri! This is wrong! Just spit it out!

"You are the priest called Braska?

"That's correct," he said politely. "And you are?

"Hajan seht dryd! I have come to speak with you about your vote on the celebration."

"What about it?"

"I must insist that your vote goes to us," she said, sounding as serious as possible.

"Ah," the young priest said with a chuckle. "So, that is what this is about."

He still was not taking her seriously! She had to prove that she meant business!

"I mean business!"

Not like that, Kiri…         

"I know," he said. "And I'm sure you meant business with the others who voted for you."

How did he... know that…?

"I take you seriously, miss," he assured her. "But obviously you haven't heard."

Heard?

"Heard what?" she asked.

"I cast my vote today," he said. "In the favor of your people."

Kiri's mind became splintered to the point of no return. What had he said? He had cast his vote for them…

voluntarily?

"Why?" she blurted finally, almost not believing him.

He smiled and laughed lightly at her. That was nice too…

"Forgive me," she said. "But why did you… do that? I thought Yevonites hated us Al Bhed… Or did you think we would come and threaten you if we didn't win?"

"I have always believed that people are equal – and no teaching can convince me otherwise. People are people. You can't judge a good or bad person by their race or religion."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes," he assured her. "I'm sorry, miss. Your efforts were noble, but in vain."

"You know, if you're lying about this, it could mean bad things," she assured him.

"I am a man of my word," he said, bowing slightly.

Kiri shook her head. This couldn't be right… She must pursue this further. Why did he think what he thought? What made him think this way? She had never been truly in contact with such a Yevonite before. What could he tell her?

She opened her mouth to pursue his reasoning, but the rattling of the side door took her attention.

"Lord Braska! Are you alright?" came a shout from behind the door.

Kiri turned back to him.

"So you are Braska?" she asked, raising her arm. A grappling shot from her wrist pack and clung silently to the glass ceiling above. "Sounds like the name of a Yevonite. We will be watching you," she reminded him.

The door of the chamber finally burst open and a monk and a warrior came inside, both out of breath.

Braska looked up at them from his scroll and cast his eyes towards the glass ceiling for a moment. The Al Bhed girl was no longer there. She was gone as quick as she had come, but he had expected no less.

"My Lord, the temple is under attack by Al Bheds!" the monk cried.

"Oh?" asked Braska innocently. "I had no idea."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back on the large airship, a roar of praise came from the mouths of the operation members. They had done it; they had won. Of course, Kiri had not told them the truth about what the priest had told her. But why complicate things?

"You did it, Kiri!" said Genervi. "Now we can attend the celebration and no one will be there to throw us out!"

"Yes," said Cid, coming over. "You did a good job, kid. And nothing bad happened. See. I told you it would be fine if you just kept your wits!"

Kiri looked across the room at her people. They were all so happy. She smiled, glad that she could bring them this good news. Though she was satisfied with the results, there was something strange about that priest. Braska… he was… different. Her mind wandered back to him on the trip back Home. Those eyes… that warm accepting smile…

She needed to see him again. Holding her helmet in her hands and staring at her reflection in the glass, she made her resolve to go back to him. That Braska – she would figure him out.