"Tidus!" screamed Yuna falling to her knees beside him. He lay sprawled on the ground in the Zanarkand Ruins, blood oozing from an open wound on his chest. A fiend had attacked the group and if it wasn't for Auron, who sliced the beast in half with his gigantic sword, the whole party would be dead. Tidus wasn't so lucky.

His eyes were wide in shock and pain. He was still alive, but barely. He mumbled Yuna's name as her tears dropped onto his face.

"Please…" she pleaded. "Please be alright. I…I love you."

It was the first time she had said it aloud but none of the others seemed shocked by it. Tidus, regardless of the pain he was in, smiled weakly. He opened his mouth to speak but cried out in pain. Yuna gasped and clutched his hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Yuna…" a solemn but strong voice said. "There is nothing you can do…yet." It was Lulu. "We can be here with him…until the end. Comfort him. And then…you send him."

Yuna closed her eyes tightly, trying to force the tears to stop; she was a Summoner. She needed to be strong, even when the love of her life was dying before her very eyes. Tidus's friends were all around him. Rikku was kneeling down on the floor crying and shaking like a leaf. Wakka wasn't crying but his face was a picture of sorrow. He was stood next to Rikku. Kimahri was stood behind Yuna and a paw was resting on her shoulder. He was always loyal to those around him and right now he felt that it was Yuna who needed him most. There was nothing he could do for Tidus. He was dying. Yuna would grieve and Kimahri of the Ronso tribe would look after her. Auron was kneeling next to his fallen comrade and he spoke in a calm voice, again, not showing his emotions, even though inside, these emotions were tearing him apart.

"Everything will be alright, Tidus. Soon, you will not have to bear this pain. I…I wish there was something we could do for you but your wound is too deep. We can do nothing."

"T-thanks for…everything…guys," Tidus murmured between laboured breaths. "Yuna…I love…you…too."

His eyes slowly closed as his breathing got shorter and shallower and slowly, his life ebbed away. He looked so peaceful now and Yuna was glad, but he could no longer feel love for Yuna and that was hurt the young Summoner most. A final tear from her eyes dropped onto his face and Yuna stood up.

"I am going to send him," she said.

Everyone nodded and respected her wishes. Auron left Tidus's side and the party moved away so that Yuna could perform the Sending. Her hair flew back in the wind as she lifted her staff in her right hand. She bought it forwards and then round her body in an arc. Pireflies flew from the end of her staff; bright little swirly patterns in the air, and then flittered over to Tidus's body. He seemed to glow and as Yuna danced his whole body seemed to come to life again for a split second, as his soul was leaving the world of Spira and entering the Farplane, a place where all souls can rest in peace.

After she had performed the Sending, Yuna fell to her knees.

"Tidus…" she whispered. "I will never forget you. I will visit the Farplane every day just so I can see your face. And one day…we can be together again."

"Kimahri will look after Yuna. Yuna never be sad when Kimahri around."

Yuna looked up at his strong featured face and smiled. He smiled back.

"Thank you, Kimahri."

"Hey!" Rikku exclaimed. She wiped the tears from her eyes and held Yuna in a tight embrace. "We'll all look after each other, right? 'Cause that's what friends are for, right?"

"Right!" Yuna said, happiness beginning to show in her voice. "And we'll never forget Tidus."

"No way! He's too cool to forget!"

"Yeah!" Yuna, Wakka and Rikku shouted in unison. Auron, Lulu and Kimahri nodded and smiled. A tear fell down Lulu's cheek and she brushed it away with one hand.

"We have to leave now," said Auron. "to Guadosalam, to see our dearly departed friend."