Title: Spiral of Love

Pairings: Kimiko/Rikku (main/eventual), Auron/Tidus, Yuna/Tidus (smidgen), Wakka/Lulu, Kimiko/Yuna (smidgen)

Summary: Kimiko is the daughter or Sir Auron and a guardian of Lady Yuna…love is not that hard to come by in a group of eccentric people, but is the one she loves going to respond to her advances?

Warnings: Violence, gore, disturbing images in this chapter.

Disclaimer: If I owned them do you really think I would be writing about them?

Notes: Remember when this was discontinued? Then I started playing FFX and I couldn't just stop. Anyway, I am rewriting the chapters, making them longer and putting even more information, yay!

Thanks to: my lovely beta reader Exxal! You're a doll and I am so happy that you helped me with this fic!


Chapter 2

Well, that was…eventful. Currently, I am standing with a few of my fellow guardians and Yuna. We're all waiting for Tidus to arrive because somewhere along the lines of the Blitball match, fiends appeared. Naturally, as guardians, the urge to protect Yuna is strong. So, we all veered off to different paths in order to find her, and save her if it was necessary. She is our main priority after all. However, that doesn't mean we can just go off and do whatever we want, and forget the other Spirans. No, it is not like that at all. I ended up saving more asses of Spirans than I did my summoner, but I had no other choice, can't let people die.

In any case, I had a hell of a lot of fun beating the crap out of fiends. Shooting them down, kicking the hell out of them the moment they attacked, I would get such a rush from it! It was like I was a fighting machine…but the moment died the second I saw my father right before my eyes and fighting like he hadn't aged a bit! He looked the same as always, still wearing that Yevon forsaken bright red coat, and the same haughty attitude he always had. Loved him though…I really did, sometimes I look up to him.

Remember, I said sometimes.

Anyway, the moment he walked past me, my knees felt weak, and suddenly I couldn't stand on my own anymore. There were so many things I wanted to say, ask, do…but he would hear none of that. The first thing he said to me? "Later. We have no time now." His voice was just as gruff as it always had been when I was a kid. He felt so old then, and looking at him, he hadn't aged since I was a kid. It was funny how that was. I shook my head, willing myself to stand again, but even so, I had to have help from Tidus. He was just as shocked as I was.

When I was back on my feet, it was go time. Fiends were no match for the three of us, and soon my adrenaline rush kicked in again. Sometime while we were fighting, a massive Aeon had been summoned out of nowhere. I immediately ceased my attacks to turn my attention to it, because the energy I was getting from it was so dark and depressingly sad. Either way, it got the job done as fiends exploded into pyreflies easily. The attacks continued on in rapid succession until all of the fiends in the perimeter of the Blitzball stadium were gone.

"Amazing…" I remember I said. When I looked at the Aeon, I could see that the person who had summoned him had been none other than Maester Seymour. How could he have such a powerful Aeon? The second I saw that he was our savior, I glared. Of course, I'm grateful for him saving everyone in the stadium, but he is just so…abnormal and creepy. I don't care what anyone else thinks, Seymour is one creepy dude and I don't want to be within a mile of him. That is just how much he creeps me out. I don't want to be near him at all.

As I continued to glare at the box area, I felt a tug on my hand and turned. Tidus was pointing at the direction my father was running and I couldn't do anything but follow the two of them. I had my father within my grasp, I was not going to let him get away this time. Whatever it took, he was going to give me some answers today! We ended up killing more fiends outside the stadium to help the citizens and visitors of Luca. After a few more rounds in my pistols, they were inevitably gone, and so I had to become the human shield. Tidus and my father ended up using a few potions on me, but it was all worth it for the protection I gave them.

Despite all my thoughts of staying with my father and getting answers, I ended losing him and Tidus in the process of fighting fiends for Spirans. I groaned as I realized that my chance to talk to my dad was lost yet again, and that pissed me off to no end. Since I had no partners to fight with, or ammunition in which to attack with, I had to duck and dive as I tried to find the rest of the guardian troupe. I found my way to the docks, however, and was able to restock my pistols, finally regaining power. After that, I found my way back to Luca Square and ran straight into Lulu and Wakka.

I shouted their names, and faced me. They ended up clucking at me like a bunch of mother hens as they checked for any bruises, cuts, or fatal wounds. They were just like parents sometimes. It's the reason they're so close to me and Yuna. Kinda funny, and it could also be annoying, but I know they do it out of love. Shrugging off their tender loving care, I told them I was completely fine and asked them if Yuna was with them.

Lulu was the first to answer me, "She's with Kimahri. They made it upstairs to the entrance of the Mi'hen Highroad. Where is Tidus?"

I scratched my cheek and turned away from them, "With my dad somewhere…I lost them when we were fighting fiends. They could be anywhere right now."

Wakka spoke up this time, his eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets when I said that. "Sir Auron? No way, he can't be here, ya? I mean, it's just not-"

"Believe me Wakka, if I hadn't seen him with my own eyes I would still think that the old man was dead and long gone. He's here though, I saw him myself, and Tidus was with us. Maybe we should just wait for them where Yuna is? It is the only way to get out of here and to the Highroad. Since we're on a pilgrimage my old man should know what's like."

Lulu nodded and began walking, while Wakka patted me on the back. We ended up meeting Yuna and Kimahri first, as we expected, and that's where I am right now. We're just waiting for Tidus to show up and hopefully, my father as well. However, I wasn't jolly to be standing around doing absolutely nothing. I was getting pretty damn impatient, and I was on the verge of complaining about how long they were taking and they needed to get their asses moving when I heard some harsh footsteps coming towards us. Following the heard of shoopufs walking (as I assumed it was) there were a few footsteps that were clumsy, like the person was forced to walk.

Turning around, I saw my dad and a very grumpy Tidus coming up to us. I cocked my head wondering why the hell Tidus looked so down and my gaze went directly to my dad. I crossed my arms as I stood beside Yuna as he talked directly to her. He asked to be her guardian and to take Tidus along for the ride. He stared at the rest of us for support, lingering on me last, and I turned my head away from him. Sure, it was a bratty thing to do, but how would you feel if you just saw the bastard who was supposed to raise you for the first time in years?

I wanted to kick, scream, yell, and throw things at him, but that it even more childish. I had to stick with the silence and snotty looks for now. He is a smart man, he can take the hint. Besides, he also pissed off my best buddy, and I tried to capture his eyes, but he wouldn't look at any of us. Soon we moved to the upper stairs that would take us to the Highroad entrance, but as my foot landed on the first step, I heard this awkward laughter behind me.

I turned around tentatively and found Yuna and Tidus being weird…super weird. For starters, they were holding their hips and laughing at the sky…for no reason at all. And it wasn't genuine laughter, it was like they were trying to push out the laughter and get it out there in the open air. Totally freaky…I'm sure they were trying to make themselves laugh, which they finally did, but it was still completely weird.

They finally looked at the rest of us, and I couldn't help but laugh. "You two really got a few screws loose, eh?" Laughing even harder, Tidus started to chase me followed by Yuna. I could hear the others laughing behind us as we were now racing up the staircase to the Mi'hen Highroad. It was nothing particularly special up there, but the three of us "kids" made fighting fiends a special game as there were certain monsters that were easier for some of us guardians to fight. The older folk were amused by our antics and after a while, Tidus got into trouble for trying to spark a conversation with her, which made me start laughing all over again.

I ended up walking with Kimarhi most of the time, which wasn't unpleasant at all. Granted, he wasn't a big talker at all, but it was very peaceful that way. I always wondered if all Ronso were just like Kimahri; the sullen type. Seeing as Ronso are these special race of creatures in Spira, who have a blue skin color and resemble felines, many people won't approach them. They've also got horns, but Kimahri doesn't…well, not anymore anyway. He lost his horn in the middle of combat, but he's pretty cool without it anyway. He's sort of an enigma since he doesn't talk very much, however, he's been taking care of Yuna since her father's Calm, which shows he's loyal as hell.

We finally stopped at the inn here in the middle of the Highroad. We were all getting pretty tired, and my father said something about it being good that an old fart like him gets his rest. I was going to make a snaky comment about that, but Lulu gave me a look before I even dared to utter it. It also looked like I might be rooming with her again after all the hell she gave me in Killika for sleeping in that other chick's room.

Leaning against the wall of the inn on the outside, I stared at the setting sun. It was so beautiful, but also reminded me of Killika. I wondered how the people were holding up there after losing so much. So many people were gone because of Sin's attacks, and it was painful to watch the Sending. It was beautiful, yes, but still haunting and shows that human life is still fragile, especially with such a monster roaming around. I sighed, thinking of the fact that right after that, the following day, Yuna obtained her second Aeon after hearing from some really trashy summoner named Dona. That poor girl should quit while she's ahead, she was so not going to amount to anything, that was for certain.

I realize that the pilgrimage was not a time for fun and games, screwing up, or worrying about the little things. It was going to be increasingly difficult, and there were going to be so many hardships for various people. While fighting fiends today in Luca, and on the Highroad, we were holding our own but also trying to work together as a team…Fleetingly I wondered exactly what the future was going to hold for all of us, especially our summoner. Her back turned to me, I stared at Yuna's silhouette sadly, I knew I wouldn't be able to live in a world with Yuna.

"Don't give things too much thought, or else your face might stay in that scowl permanently." I looked at my father and stuck my tongue out at him for the smartass remark.

"Trying to say I'm not allowed to think, you old coot?"

"Depends if your brain will implode or not."

"Hey!" I huffed as she smiled and walked on over to Yuna and now, Tidus. He exchanged a few words with them before returning to me and placing his hand on my shoulder. "Hm?" I asked, as I looked at him expectantly. Instead of saying anything like a normal person, he just shook his head, and hurried into the inn. I turned and look at the entrance of the inn, wondering it could possibly be that he was going to say, while my friends crept behind me asking what was that about. "Don't know. He's still as weird as ever." Tidus kept trying to press the issue, so I kicked him in the shin, which sent him to the ground.

"Kimi!" I shrugged and walked inside of the inn as Yuna rushed to help Tidus. My mood had quickly changed. I wasn't in the mood for anyone. Perhaps, I needed to rest? Thinking I had a room with Lulu, I went there only to find that Yevon wasn't pleased with me, and Tidus was going to be my roommate. The moment I entered the room and closed the door, we were engaged in an all-out pillow fight. Feathers were flying everywhere as we kept hitting one another with them. It was actually hilarious and it brought my spirits up.

Unfortunately, we were apparently being too loud and so Kimahri and my dad came in to see what the fuss was all about. We promptly stopped our fight, settled into the bed like good kids, and pretended like we were going to sleep. However, that was not on our list of priorities, so Tidus and I ended up staying up because of all the excess energy we had. As the other two left us, I heard Tidus ask me, "Can you believe it?" I looked at him, completely confused. "He's here, Kimi. He's really here…"

"You mean my dad?" He nodded. "Can't say I'm not surprised…don't know if I'm all that ecstatic to see him again, know what I mean? Like…I'm not prepared for it or something…it's a really weird feeling." I shrugged, wishing I knew how to explain this feeling better. It was…mixed in a way, and a huge pile of guilt was dumped on me for that.

"Course you're not prepared for that. I wasn't prepared to see you. You weren't prepared to see me. But how's that any different? I don't see any problem."

I rubbed my forehead, getting a bit exasperated with him. "Okay. What's it gonna be like when you finally see Jecht again, hm? What then? Is it going to be everything you dreamed of and more?"

Shooting me a look, he answered the question. "I told you, I'm gonna smack him one for everything he's putting me through. My relationship isn't the same you got with Auron. Hell, it's not the one I got with Auron either. You like your dad and want to be like him, even though you're a girl." I kicked him in the shin again. He's definitely gonna have a strong shin because of me. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"For being an asshole. Saying things like 'because you're a girl.' You know I hate that! Besides…I wanted to punch dad once, when I saw him with you. But…that feeling's kinda gone away. I think it did anyway. Now it's more 'where have you been' and why didn't you tell me diddly squat' you know? I'm just…all confused."

Tidus nodded, and pulled me in for a hug. "I know. I understand ya." We ended up falling asleep in that position. The following morning, dad and Wakka came into the room to wake us, but instead we got Wakka teasing us and calling us a "sleeping couple." My dad just stared at us amused until I stared to chase Wakka out of room, and Lulu had to drag me back inside so I could get dressed. Then dad decided to give me a lecture on propriety-as if he was one to talk!-while Yuna blushed asking us several times if we were a couple. On the way to gates of Mushroom Rock Road, we had to keep convincing her that no, we weren't a couple at all. She didn't fully believe us, but the subject was soon dropped anyway.


X.X.X.

"The hell you mean you won't let us pass?" I shouted angrily, holding the officer by his collar, and ready to shank him with his weapon.

"Kimi, compose yourself. We do not need any disruptions, nor will it be a good idea to have you arrested. Release him, and leave him be." I huffed in response, but let the bastard drop, and sauntered over to the chocobo owner. Maybe she could calm me down with the chocobo talk and I would be a-okay for the next few hours or so. I noticed that after a while, things were going nowhere and went back to the group. Unfortunately, Maester Seymour made his appearance right then and there, and again he haughtily winked at me before speaking to the soldiers to let us through.

Everyone was striding past him, but for a second I could feel his hand touch my arm slightly. My glare became much more vicious just for him, and he shrank away, walking faster to the operation area. Tidus could see that I was upset as put his arm around my shoulders. Again, it wasn't making it any easier on the case of me and Tidus being together, but I didn't care. I let the two of us walk like that until we got to the operation area, figuring out that something was totally not right, and I wanted to get away but was trapped. I could tell that whatever was going down was going to shake us, make us, or break us; I wasn't sure which one it was going to be unless, all three.

Walking in to the upper tier of Mushroom Rock Road, a few miles away from the Djose Highroad that we needed to get to the next temple, I noticed there were hundreds of canons lining the coast and crusaders milling about everywhere. Tidus let me go, and I leaned against the rocks beginning to get a bit sick, feeling that something was going to go completely wrong. I could already imagine the devastation that was going to take place before the operation was explained to us. Knowing what happened to Wakka's brother, Chappu…I could just imagine was going to happen to the men and women here.

We should have just stayed at the inn a little longer, never passed through here. If there was another way to get to Djose, I wish we had taken that instead of walking into the middle of this. I wouldn't let anyone see me panic, but inside of myself, I was losing it. My whole body and mind were screaming, and I was ready to give out at a moment's notice. This was on a while other scale from fiends.

These people were actively going after Sin. That's what they were gathered here to do. People of Yevon were teaming with the Al Bhed (a race of people in Spira who were predominantly blond with green eyes and have spirals in their pupils) and they were going to bring down their common enemy. This kind of plan was doomed form the start, even that dirty rat Maester Kinoc, who was a friend of my dad's once, told us that. My father and I locked eyes, and I shook my head. He inched his head, knowing my exact meaning.

I wanted to get out of here.

When it began, the only thing I could do…was watch.

My heart started pounding, and the blood rushed to my ears. They carried the Sinspawn out of it's cage and released it. Unfortunately, it was unstable and so my team and I had to take care of the damned fiend. Instead of killing it, like we had hoped, we ended up wounding it. That was more than enough to call Sin out to us, and then the true part of the operation began.

The images of this will always remain in my mind. Right when I close my eyes, behind the skin folds, this will replay forever and ever.

The Al Bhed began firing a gigantic canon-beam they built. The beams did strike Sin at first, while there were Crusaders on the shore fighting the rest of the Sinspawn that were docking and trying to get to the rest of us. However, the first thing that failed us all was the canon-beam. Sin was able to release it's own counterattack, which broke the canon-beam in half and toppled right into the rocks, killing at least a hundred to two hundred people on the shore and inside the canon-beam combined.

I didn't turn my eyes away as I watched it fall. I could hear Yuna scream, praying for something, anything to work.

My father's hand was tugging my arm next as I returned my full attention to Sin, to see a bright pale light coming towards the shore, and us, in one fell swoop. The people on the front lines of the shore didn't just die; they evaporated like nothing.

I watched their blood become a part of the air.

Then the rock began to fall, bringing us down with it. And I blacked out.

There was nothing else for me now. I was going to die here. If I wasn't there to protect Yuna, hopefully the others would be able to. Maybe, the Crusaders and I who died would be honored, told about…something.

Or nothing.

And there was nothing but darkness. Not even a sound to help me ease into death.

Utter and complete silence.

I was scared; incredibly afraid.

Then…the ground trembled, and I slowly opened my eyes. I was…still alive? How…Why…There were sounds again, but nothing that made any sense. There were so many cries that were piercing my ears like painful bullets lodged into the eardrum and plunging in incessantly. Blood and dirt was lodged into my nasal cavities like a permanent stench. I grit my teeth realizing I could smell death…decay, blood, and dirt. It was horrific.

Not only was I smelling it. I was touching it. Death was all over my body. I have never been so horrified in my life. My eyes were able to widen and that's when I looked at what was in front of me. The person's face was gone, all that was left was blood and bone. Whatever the body was, was mangled and twisted at an awkward angle and still slightly moving…not caught up with the fact that it's dead. If it had a face…I could imagine it screaming in agony, the mouth open in horror for all eternity.

I made myself push myself into a kneeling position. Using the body as a crutch to get up slightly, feeling the blood coat my hands and fingers. The flesh was still warm, and the bone was quickly becoming brittle. I coughed and retched. The nauseating feeling of bile started to creep within my throat, and I bit it back down. No, Kimi. You cannot be weak. Panting as I used the body as leverage to get up, I realized that it wasn't just one body that was in front of me…there were several surrounding me, like they gave their lives just for me.

It was enough to get me to kneel again. My hands were soaked in someone else's blood and guts, and I could see organs and limbs lining the shore and around me. People were torn apart left and right and it felt like I was the only person left in Spira. My hands went to my hair, beginning to pull. I got some strands out as I cried out; screaming. Death was way too tangible in front of me.

I touched it. I touched it. I touched it.

Why am I not dead? WHY?

Slamming my hands on the floor, I started to beat the ground as if were the transgressor. As if it was the one who had done this to me; to us; to the Crusaders. I looked outward, seeing the sea as peaceful and calm as ever. It reminded me faintly of Zanarkand. The one that I had been able to live in. Not the ruins that people are always talking about now. It was comforting. It was a small glimmer of hope.

There were tears running down my face. At this point, I don't give a fuck about someone perceiving me as weak. I'm alive, and that's what matters. I was afraid, but happy. I survived this. Shakily I stood up, beginning to pray over the bodies, and start a sending for them. Before I could even do this, a blur had whizzed past me and I looked up to see it run straight to the shore and stop. I could tell it was yelling, but all I heard was the screeches of loud booming noises and yells. It was not a good sound.

I noticed the clothes. It was Tidus. Shouting at Sin.

I clutched my stomach, wanting to throw up again, and yet I also wanted to cry more. My heart was breaking more and more by the minute. Somehow, I know…there is a connection between Tidus and Sin. I just don't know what it is. I sniffed, the sending forgotten, and pyreflies started to envelop me. I turned my attention to see Yuna doing it and I shook my head. She didn't deserve to see all this death and destruction.

"Ugh…" I tried to walk, wondering where everyone else was, but Tidus ran up to me and started talking. His talking was yelling, and since I was deaf, I couldn't hear anything. "Tidus." I patted his lips with my bloodstained hands, in which he finally took a look at me, and grabbed my arm. We started running around to find everyone. Lulu and Wakka were safe and sound together. Kimahri was with Yuna, and the last person to find was my dad. My heart was beating wildly within my chest as we scrambled to find him. Eventually he emerged completely fine, and stared at me. I looked like shit, and felt like shit, and naturally, I stared back.

We rushed off to find Yuna, who healed my ear. It turned out that I was only able to hear the high pitched screams of agony instead of deciphering any real words. Nothing was able to register except for the horrific sounds of those people dying, in pain, or crying because look around them…it can make anyone go insane.

None of us talked about what just transpired as we started on the Djose Highroad. We knew what happened, saw the casualties firsthand, in my case I was able to touch them, which brought tears to my eyes as I thought about the mangled body…The next few nights, I was only going to be able to see the countless bodies. Their faces were all turned upwards, their eyes held no vibrancy, and they were all dead. Blood was covering the plain; letting me swim in it, covering me and holding me down in their blood like a pool, and the bones gathering around me asking me why wasn't I among them.

I closed my eyes as we walked, but the images were burned into me eyes when they were opened or closed!

My father patted my arm reassuringly every so often.

Death was scary as all hell…


Extra Notes: Trying to get rewrites as soon as possible! Hope you like this chapter?