A Thousand Tides

Inspired by "On Your Shore"

Summary: "...because in the midst of all the beckoning whistles, blitzball games, and expensive glasses of foreign champagne, she had gathered the courage to fall for those blue eyes of his..."

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X and quite possibly never will.

"What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet?"

-'Romeo and Juliet'

2

The Abes locker room was usually a quiet place, damp with sweat and water, the scent of pure testosterone lingering in the air as the players walked through the halls with aching muscles and victorious grins. A certain musk hung around the vicinity, reeking of fame and glory. Tidus loved it.

Yet not as much as he loved the golden trophy cradled in his arms; a matching plaque at the ebony base proclaiming yet another undefeated season for the Abes. Jecht's collection of his own wins were stored within glass cases, showcased proudly on the walls of their home. The maids were under strict orders to polish them daily—with gloves, of course—even his own son's fingerprints were not allowed to taint his memories of the golden days.

He could distinctly remember his old man's voice, drifting to his young whenever he stared at them with unbridled determination seemingly a hundred years ago, taunting and crude.

"You can't do it, kid. You just can't."

Then he had vanished. Without a trace. The old man he'd grown up to believe he could love disappeared, leaving his wife and son in his wake carelessly. Young Tidus was befuddled, his mother heartbroken. And it was those words that had stuck to him the most those years Jecht had gone missing.

"You can't do it, kid…"

And when he had returned, eyes tired and body bruised, he hadn't even bothered to give an explanation. And when his own son had told him his wife had died, he simply nodded, as if he had known it all along.

Jecht never did stay long. As soon as the sponsors and offers came he was off like a volley shot, leaving him in the hands of Auron.

Tidus didn't mind, of course. He couldn't have cared less. Auron was more of a father than Jecht had ever been.

"You can't do it…"

"Hm," he smirked to himself, walking out the hall that led to the stadium and inwardly preparing himself for the press and the flashing lights that always accompanied them whenever they congregated around him, drowning his words out with questions of their own. "They don't make trophies like they used to, old man."

The Blitz Cup gleamed and the lights shimmered on its flawless surface and Tidus tightened his hold on it. He'd get his own glass case soon, and fill it with his own trophies. "They make 'em better…"

Jecht had not been to any of Tidus' games, not even for the tryouts—something which Tidus had considered to be the 'defining moment of his life.'

"I can't be there, you know that…" Jecht scowled at his son. "I'm promoting some new sports drink. They're naming in after me, you know. After all," an assured twinkle gleamed in his father's eyes and he spoke nastily, "it's not as if you ever even have a chance of entering the Abes. That's my team boy. And you just can't do it, kid. You won't make it."

"Tidus!" A voice broke him out of the trance and he glanced around quizzically. Who said that? The first thought that had jumped into his mind was Auron, but his guardian's voice was lower and rough, this was squealing and feminine.

"Right here, silly!"

He turned again, and a grin broke across his face. "Rikku!"

A blond Al-Bhed girl bounced up to his side, her face breaking into a cheery grin. Her jovial disposition was not out of place in the swarm of giddy blitzball zealots, all of who clustered around the arena entrance like bees, waiting for his exit. "Pops took me to a game! Can you believe it?"

"Wow." Tidus blinked, mussing his hair. Cid was known for being notoriously cheap, and he didn't seem to like Tidus much, considering the Blitzer's polished upbringing.

Rikku nodded, clapping her hands together. "And we're going to Besaid tomorrow, so I guess he's kind of in a good enough mood for you to ask…"

"Ask what?" Tidus stared at her blankly.

Rikku frowned, then her shoulders slumped in resignation. "You forgot, didn't you?"Seeing Tidus' lips quirk into a bashful smile, she sighed theatrically. "You were going to ask him if you could come along."

"Oh." Tidus' eyes glimmered. "Right. With the game and the press, my head's kind of…jumbled, right now."

"Ask him!" Rikku said—not noticing the look of hesitation he wore. Taking his shoulders and ushering him into the throng of fans—all flocking to Tidus with blitzballs in hand, ready for signing—she squared her shoulders brazenly. The blitzer braced himself as a gaggle of young girls sashayed their way to him from afar, shooting a dazzling grin their way just for the fun of it. They stopped in their advances almost instantaneously, blinking.

"Hey!" Rikku hollered, shoving the fans away with her shoulders as the rabble's reaching hands relentlessly groped for a hold on the Abes star. "Back off, we need to get going!"

Blitz fanatics surged behind them and Rikku hurried her pace as they exited the horde, looking harried yet bright-eyed. Spotting her father and Brother, two lone and stiff figures standing still amidst a sea of moving bodies, she waved and called to them.

"Hey! Ujan rana!"

Brother glanced at them and Tidus could feel a scowl work on his own face as the tattooed boy eyed his blitzball uniform with undisguised envy. It was a well-known fact that Brother despised Tidus—quite openly too—simply because he was a Blitzer for the Zanarkand Abes. The Al-Bhed Psyches had made it their utmost priority to boot the Abes out of their number one spot this year, something which Tidus found endlessly amusing and hopeless. Brother, however, took it much more seriously than he had expected.

"You didn't tell me Brother came with you," Tidus hissed to his friend.

"Ah, don't mind him." Riku scoffed. "He's been throwing tantrums left and right today."

"Hm." Cid nodded to Tidus in his usual curt manner, head tilted up slightly to acknowledge the taller Blitzer. "That was a good game you played, Avalon. Expensive too."

"Pops!" Rikku snapped. "Really?"

Tidus chuckled nervously as Cid's eyes sharpened on him. "Rikku told me about your trip to Bestade, sir."

"Bestade?" Bother cut in, looking half amused and half disgusted at his ignorance.

"You mean, Besaid." Cid corrected, folding his arms with a nod. "Yeah. Gonna go pick up my niece Yuna."

"That's nice," Tidus said, easing himself to a confident pose and adopting a languid tone. "You guys are taking the airship, right?"

"Yeah," Cid narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously. "Why?"

Tidus flashed his most charming grin. "I've always wanted to ride one."

…

…

The sun had barely peeked over the serene horizon of Spira's southernmost island, warm tendrils of rubicund light skimming over the calm tides that lapped onto the dry, sandy shores. Skies glided by lazily over the haphazard collection of small bijous and still the early morning commotion roused the rest of the villagers. Spurring to life, Besaid woke to yet another beautiful morning.

Yuna glanced away from the window, shafts of light pouring into the room and bringing into mind something that almost made her hunch over in sickness. It was so bare. The once soothing tan shade of the walls seemed faded and ancient next to the emptied shelves and open dressers. A luggage sat by the open door, glaring back at her almost challengingly.

"Yuna." Wakka's head peeked into the door, a grin on his face. "Come. We're heading out to the beach."

…

"Yuna! Lu! Come check out some of my blitz moves, ya?"

Vidina sat boredly on his mother's lap, eyes closed as Yuna raked her fingers through his hair gently.

"I've already seen them," Lulu rolled her eyes in exasperation, feet submerged underneath the waves. Her ebony hair was set in a high ponytail, flickering side to side in the gentle breeze.

"Aww, come on, Lu! Don't be like that." Wakka complained.

"Yevon forbid Vidina ends up with your attitude, Lulu." Giggled Yuna, drawing circles into the sand as Vidina nestled into the warmth of his mother.

"Yevon forbid he end up with Wakka's blitzing skills," The woman smirked at her husband.

Wakka's jaw dropped. "Aw, that's low, Lu. To insult a man's blitzball skills is to insult his pride."

"Good," Lulu smiled, her gaze drifting back to the ocean. "I was aiming for something like that."

Yuna's eyes followed suit, skimming over the gleaming waters to the sunrise, watching the red-orange rays bathe the land and paint its own reflection on the ocean below.

"I wonder if Zanarkand's sunset is as beautiful as this…"

Lulu turned to her, maroon eyes dull with sorrow at the thought. "I'm sure it is."

Yuna leaned her head back, a breeze caressing her cheek softly. "I wonder if it is as amazing as they all say….A great machina city that never sleeps…" She closed her eyes, a gentle smile curling her lips. "With a stadium that lights up…even at night."

Missing the bitter expression shadowing Lulu's features, Yuna continued, her hands clasped together around her knees, which she drew against her chest with a sigh. "It sounds like a dream. But it is not Besaid."

Lulu stroked her hair gingerly, allowing a smile to grace her face and willing herself to hold back tears. "I am sorry it had to come to this Yuna. Really, this was our last resort. We cannot support you, and…and Wakka and I fear that if you stay here…your dreams are just going to be just that. Dreams."

"'Ey! You two!" Wakka lumbered over to them, sensing his wife's growing distress and clicking his tongue in disapproval. "What'd I say about tears, Lu?"

"Oh, stow it, Wakka!" said Lulu, her hands pressing against her forehead as she took a deep, calming breath. Vidina, sensing his mother's dismay, took the time to send his father an impromptu glare.

Feeling immense guilt well inside her, Yuna let out a laugh which, through practice, managed to come off as genuine. "It's okay, Lulu. I understand. Really, I'm rather excited to see the Al-Bhed half of my family. I hear my cousin Rikku is quite the character."

"Oh, she is." Wakka laughed. "I had a talk with the girl on the CommSphere once and she seemed to be the...very easily excited type. Not at all like Lulu."

Yuna giggled and Wakka grinned humorously, patting his wife's hunched shoulders in an almost fatherly manner.

"You're both terrible!" Lulu exclaimed and Vidina clambered out of his mother's outstretched arms, reaching for Yuna's hand in childish fascination. Lulu glared at Wakka, her expression severe yet defeated. "She leaves in two days and you're acting like…like…"

"I think someone needs to cool off," Wakka grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling.

"What?" Lulu's eyes narrowed at him, suspicious. "Wakka…"

Her husband arm's darted down to snatch her unwillingly by the waist. She let out a startled shriek as he hefted her up on his shoulders with a simple grunt. "Wakka!"

Whistling, he trotted off to the ocean, wading in the waters. Lulu pounded on his back, threats spewing from her mouth. "Wakka, don't you dare—"

He dumped her unceremoniously with a laugh, her body falling with limbs thrashing about as she splashed onto the waves with a yelp. Vidina laughed in Yuna's lap, obviously pleased to see his mother and father getting along so well.

Yuna smiled.

Zanarkand would be her dream city, she decided. But Besaid would always be her home.

…

…

"Jecht, I don't think you understand." Auron sighed as he pressed the phone tighter against his ear. "You're taking this matter too lightly."

A gruff voice answered on the other line, laughing. "Don't baby the kid, Auron. You'll make 'im cry."

"Would you be serious?" Auron sighed, pacing the corridor of the Avalon manor, eyes trained on the door that led to Tidus' bedroom. A sign hung on the knob, swaying. 'Do not disturb', it read.

Teenagers, Auron mentally scoffed.

"I am serious." Jecht replied in a calmer tone, sensing his old friend's growing anxiety and addressing it with ironic humor. His voice was oddly slurred. "You're acting like his father, Auron. More than me, actually."

Auron scoffed.

Jecht cleared his throat then, drawling languidly with a derisive chuckle. "But its too damn bad that I am his father. And I think you should let him go."

"The airship will take them to Besaid, you know." Auron said, rubbing his brow in distress, coming to halt at the stairwell.

There was a deafening silence before Jecht answered, his voice tight and serious with consternation. "I know."

"And…you're fine with that?" Auron inquired hotly.

"Listen Auron. I promised Braska I'd never let nothin' happen to his little girl. Just like you promised you'd watch over my…" Jecht paused, coughing. "…son. And we can't exactly keep an eye on her when she's way back in Besaid."

"But Brother is such a terrible driver!" Auron protested, knowing his defenses were weakening. "He'll practically nosedive the airship into the ground the minute Tidus steps foot on it."

"Brother?"

"Cid's eldest son."

"Oh, the mohawk kid? Yeah, I remember him now. He was a…real piece of work."

"Still is," Auron mumbled mostly to himself.

"But, listen. This trip might help the kid, y'know?" Jecht continued, his tone persuading and soft. "Before the whole…'pilgrimage business' with Braska, blitzball was my life. I played blitzball. I lived for blitzball. I breathed blitzball. Then I really got to see things from a whole new perspective in our journey. I realized there were more important things in life than trophies and games, Auron. I realized I had a wife I loved…a kid I left behind."

"Jecht…"

"And now look at 'im! Followin' my footsteps at such an early age! He'll turn out to be like me unless he 'broadens his horizons'…" Jecht's voice trailed off to a halt and Auron felt his throat dry.

There was a swishing sound on the other line, vaguely familiar and ultimately disappointing. It was the lap of alcohol, swirling in a bottle as its contents were hastily downed on by the former Blitzer. Auron grimaced. "You're drinking."

"Ha…I can't hide nothin' from you, Auron."

A sick feeling tugged at the man's gut and he shut his eyes tightly. It amazed him how alcohol had twisted Jecht so severely. He'd even taint memories of his own late wife under a vodka's influence, laugh it off as if her death hadn't fazed him more than he could ever afford to admit.

"I'll have a talk with Tidus about it." Auron said stonily. "Goodbye, Jecht."

Author's Note: I really can't thank you enough for the reviews. This has been pretty much a filler chapter before we get to the airship 'expedition' to Besaid in which Yuna and Tidus have a fateful meeting.
:)

If you guys haven't read "On Your Shore" by now you really should. It's in my favorite's list.

Leave a review please.

-HVM