Shizuo just couldn't seem to relax, they were perfectly safe here in Luca but everybody here had heard the rumors. Sin had taken out Kilika. The attitude in the city was subdued, even with the upcoming Blitzball tournament. Kasuka shot him a look.

"You're tense."

It was an understatement to say the least. Shizuo had been tense since they'd left the small village they grew up in. Kasuka had become a summoner against Shizuo's protests but Shizuo had stepped up to be his guardian none the less. Their parents had been heartbroken but had offered them optimistic goodbyes. Shizuo had held in his tears as his mother gave them both a heart wrenching smile.

"Well, if I can't convince you otherwise then I hope you become Spira's newest hope. Good luck."

Then she'd pulled both Shizuo and Kasuka into a hug. She turned away almost as soon as she let go but Shizuo could have sworn there were tears on her cheeks. Their father had given them an almost hopeless silence before looking away.

"Good luck boys… I'll look forward to the calm you bring."

And he too went back inside to join their mother.

So far Kasuka only had two aeons, they'd traveled through Besaid and Killika first. Shizuo was relieved that Kasuka had been able to avoid the destruction Sin had wrought but he also itched to go back and help. Kilika was a village similar to their own. It made him uncomfortably aware of just what Kasuka was fighting for.

Shizuo took a deep breath and forced himself to relax, shooting Kasuka a small smile.

"I can't help it. I feel like I have to be ready at every second."

Kasuka nodded.

"Understandable but please don't stress yourself too much."

Shizuo couldn't help the fond feeling in his chest, nor the sudden ache at the thought of what would happen if Kasuka succeeded in his goal, the goal of every summoner. Kasuka caught onto Shizuo's mood instantly and Shizuo grimaced at the barely perceptible frown.

"I'm here for you all the way but… It's hard for me Kasuka. I don't…"

And suddenly he was crying, he'd been holding it all in for too long. Since Kasuka had started training to be a summoner. He didn't want his brother to die… but Spira's fate could very well be ruined forever unless somebody stepped up. Either way every day was a danger, just living in this world day to day was a death sentence… But it didn't make any of this easy.

Kasuka just pulled him into a hug.

"I know brother, the right thing to do is rarely easy yet somebody must do it."

Shizuo wrapped his arms around his brother's small body, it almost felt like every second could be their last and the very thought was suffocating. He took deep breaths and calmed himself back down. It felt good to finally let out his emotions but the journey would only get harder from here. He pulled himself away from Kasuka slowly, reluctant to let go of him but knowing that they needed to head to the next temple.

Shizuo wiped at his face and sighed.

"It's Djose next then?"

Kasuka nodded.

"Yes. Do we need fresh supplies?"

Shizuo shuffled through the pack. They had plenty of phoenix downs but they were low on high potions and it couldn't hurt to pick up a few antidotes as well…

"Yeah we could do with a few more things. Ready to head to the shop?"

Kasuka nodded. And they walked to the shop in silence. They bought the items and headed for Mi'ihen Highroad.

They'd barely stepped onto the path when a fiend attacked. Shizuo grit his teeth, this one was big. It was an Ochu and Kasuka stepped forward to summon but suddenly the Ochu caught fire. Shizuo stared in amazement as the fiend shriveled to ash before their eyes. He turned to see a man in a black fur trimmed jacket twirling a jewel encrusted knife. The man smiled at them.

So you're the summoner everyone is talking about."

Shizuo was baffled as the stranger stepped around him like he wasn't even there to stand in front of Kasuka, strange red eyes gleaming with excitement. Kasuka nodded.

"Yes, I suppose I am. Who are you?"

The stranger blinked twice before answering.

"Ahh forgive me! My name is Izaya Orihara. Sorry to steal your battle like that but I wanted to ask you something and I figured a demonstration would be in order anyway."

Shizuo felt a pit form in his stomach, this stranger couldn't possible mean to-

"I'd like to be your guardian!"

Before Shizuo even knew what he was doing he'd grabbed Izaya's arm and shoved him violently away from his brother.

"No."

Even Kasuka seemed taken aback at his reaction. Shizuo didn't even know why he felt so strongly on the subject. But he had a strange feeling in his gut about this person. No way would he trust some shady nobody to guard his baby brother.

Izaya pouted from where he'd fallen to the dirt but made no move to stand just sighed.

"A simple no would have sufficed, save your violence for the fiends."

Kasuka shot Shizuo a chastising look and moved to help Izaya to his feet.

"Forgive him please, he's rather protective."

Izaya took Kasuka's hand with a smile.

"I suppose it's understandable. A sudden stranger appearing to steal a battle, wanting to be a guardian, doesn't seem very trustworthy. However, I can assure you my reasons are pure."

Shizuo growled lowly and stood over Izaya menacingly

"What are your reasons exactly."

Izaya shot Shizuo an unimpressed look.

"Not that it's your business but I suppose some form of trust offering is in order."

Here his gaze turned distant and what seemed like a cloud hung over his expression.

"Surely at least one of you have lost somebody to Sin."

Shizuo looked away uncomfortably. And Kasuka glanced his way

"No, so far we've been lucky."

Izaya's lips twisted in a frown.

"Well it's not very fun I can say that for sure."

And once again Shizuo was reacting without thought.

"Who… Who did you lose?"

Izaya clenched his eyes shut.

"Nobody important, just my best friend… and his girlfriend."

There was bitterness in his voice when he said those last words, a story that Shizuo wasn't sure he wanted to know. Kasuka interrupted the awkward silence.

"I don't see a reason why you shouldn't join my pilgrimage. You have every right to fight."

Two pairs of eyes turned to Shizuo then, and Shizuo cursed.

"Fine, you can come. But you better not back out on us, this is serious."

Izaya's piercing red eyes seemed to burn at that.

"Perhaps you should worry more for your own resolve."

And Shizuo knew he should feel offended at the implications…. But after his breakdown from earlier the words just hurt. He looked away guiltily and Kasuka sighed.

"Enough talk, this isn't the place for this."

Izaya smiled at that.

"You're right. To Djose we go!"

Shizuo frowned as they walked, this had better not turn out to be a bad choice… He wasn't optimistic about those odds.