So, in honor of the new game being released, and the fact I'm playing Final Fantasy X, I came up with this two chapter destiny island story, set during KH I and II, and starring all the destiny island characters, (but mainly Tidus).
Because this should have happened.
A Lingering Hymn
Tidus' dad went missing during the really bad storm with the shadow monsters. He wasn't the only one though, Tidus' mom went missing too, and Wakka's brother Chappu, Kairi, Riku and Sora, the town drunk, a couple teachers, an entire family, and the old man who ran the ice cream shop.
There were more, but those were the only ones that Tidus knew for sure.
But unlike most of them, Jecht came back. His mom didn't, but his dad did. And eventually, Kairi came back with news that Sora and Riku were okay and trying to make their way back too.
Four of the missing were accounted for, officially.
Tidus wished they didn't count his dad.
Jecht was there, the same jerk of a father he'd always been, but something was wrong. Really wrong. Like black licorice instead of chocolate wrong.
Jecht did a good job of pretending , but Tidus noticed it when his dad would just stop, like a windup toy would stop, and just stare blankly at something or someone that he used to either brush away or get annoyed with.
Or the way he didn't really get mad like he used to, insults no longer burning, but just said as if by habit, no feeling behind it.
Most damning of all, however, was Jecht's disinterest in blitzball.
The man who lived and breathed the game, analyzing other playes and games like there was nothing more important... didn't really talk about it.
He started going to church too, and no one knew how to deal with that. He never dressed for it, retaining his aversion to shirts, but he wasn't disruptive, just sitting in the back corner listening.
He'd go while the choir was practicing too, but eventually the vicar had to speak to him. Tidus was lucky enough to have been spying on his dad that day.
"We are ... concerned about your interest in our choir." He'd started.
"Why? I just want to hear the hymns." Jecht looked at the vicar as if he'd never seen him before.
"Why do you want to hear the hymns, Jecht?"
"Dunno, reminds me of something I forgot... damned if I know why, but it's important, I know that much." Jecht crossed his arms. Tidus watched his dad's face, it ... if Tidus didn't know better, he'd say his dad looked lost.
"I see." Whatever the Vicar thought he understood, it ended up with Jecht getting several cds worth of hymns which he played non-stop at home.
The next big thing was the time Tidus twisted his ankle.
It hurt really bad, and Tidus couldn't quite stop crying so he tried to hide. He didn't want his dad to mock him.
Jecht found him, but instead of teasing or insulting, or even telling him to walk it off, his father scooped him up off the ground. Tidus tensed up as his dad adjusted slightly, and then gave him a piggy back ride.
His dad's skin felt cold despite the heat.
Tidus felt a little sick.
"It's going to be fine, stop crying." Jecht said as he walked up to the clinic.
"But you're not fine! Something's wrong with you old man!" Tidus finally snapped. "Your skin is cold when it's the hottest day of the year!"
Jecht froze. He looked stunned, before focusing on the clinic. "Doesn't matter, I'm not gonna leave you by yourself. Especially since she's not back."
He strode into the clinic and demanding for someone to look at Tidus' ankle.
Late that night, crutches by the bed, Tidus went through all the oddities that Jecht had displayed, and came to one inescapable conclusion.
His 'dad' was a ghost.