Watery trips:

Yuna showed up about an hour after I woke, the small satchel over her shoulder probably full of clothing and a few snacks, while Kimahri had a similar burden. The last time Yuna had gone on a small trip to learn the basics of surviving in the wild, she'd packed so heavily, even Kimahri couldn't haul all her stuff. After that, Lulu and myself taught her how to travel lightly. It took her awhile, but Yuna got it down. It also provided plenty of potential blackmail potential against her, but I really didn't need it anyway. I'd settle for 'embarrassing Yuna' stories.

I shifted my pack, which was mostly full of foodstuffs and a few changes of clothing, and then stepped outside, locking the door shut, and setting the system into security mode. With that on, it would take an Al Bhed cracking team to break into the place. Which was the purpose of the system… or maybe I'm paranoid. Not quite sure.

I motioned for Yuna to follow me, and the three of us walked through the twilight of dawn in Besaid, heading for the small, virtually unknown beach, where I'd placed the mid-sized boat in a hidden cove.

The walk was quiet, punctuated with yawns from Yuna on occasion, but otherwise, undisturbed. The fiend population was changing from 'nighttime fiends' to 'daytime fiends', so they were fighting each other, rather than pestering travelers.

We made it to the cove unmolested, and I punched in another combination into a hidden panel, a secret door opening when I did so. Yuna gave me a sleepy but amused look, walking in after Kimahri. I followed them inside, ignoring Yuna's shocked exhalation.

The ship I had was a small one, intended for at maximum, six people. Conditions would be cramped then, since there were only two 'staterooms', and those rooms weren't exactly large. Thankfully, I could pilot the thing with the training I'd had as a kid, so getting it prepped for launch was easy enough.

Yuna did try to help, but I politely banished her to the sheltered helm, as I double checked the engine, com system, and foodstuffs. Once that was done, I went into the helm myself, gave Yuna an apologetic smile, and manipulated the controls, starting the engine up, and slowly pulling it out of the hidden dock, and out of the hidden cove. I didn't even have to blow something up to find the place, I'd stumbled across it. Must have seen some use in the long-distant past, because even now, it looked maintained, if a bit old.

Once we were away from Besaid, I put on the autopilot, and then abandoned the helm, instead going onto the deck, and standing near Yuna, who was looking into the distance. Kimahri, as usual, was keeping an eye on her from nearby. Softly, I called, "We'll be there in four days at max, two and a half if the weather is kind."

Yuna turned, and commented, "This ship… it moves fast."

I nodded, feeling the wind whip by. It did move fast, which was how I'd asked. I didn't need hauling capacity or space, I just needed a boat that could move, was reliable, and could carry the minor equipment that I needed to pick up from Home once in awhile. It wasn't as fast as an airship was supposed to be, but until Cid finds the damn thing (he's been hunting for it for a few years now), boats are the fastest way to get around Spira. Chocobos might run fast, but they're nothing on a good machina engine. Unlike chocobos, the engine doesn't get tired, or sick. It hardly even needs fuel, since it was based on an ancient machina that seemed to draw energy from pyreflies or something, because I didn't need to fill up a physical tank, like some of us had to do with certain machina, usually the huge ones.

Softly, I asked, "Yuna, what's bothering you?"

She turned, and gave me a weak faked smile, before saying, "This… this is the farthest I've been away from Besaid, since I was taken there when I was young. It feels… strange."

I gave her a knowing smile, and nodded. "It always does. You want to train your white magic while we wait?"

Yuna smiled, and said quietly, "Thanks."

I watched carefully as she cast a Cure spell on me, judging the strength of the magic. Yuna knew fully well that I actually could use Cura, but she needed to get down Cure first.

&&&&&

Three days later, I slowed the engine, as Bikanel's primary port appeared in the distance. Each of us had taken the trip somewhat differently; Yuna was often up late at night, watching the stars, Kimarhi rarely was up and about, except for eating (he apparently was mildly seasick), and I tended to sleep for twelve hour stretches at unpredictable hours. Yuna's spellwork had improved (Yevon's teaching style really sucks), and she could reliably cast Cure whenever she wanted. Of course, because of the drain on her resources, she slept at even odder hours than I did, and ate more than Kimahri. Though that wasn't saying much, if he wasn't blue, I'd say that he was about ready to turn green.

I called out to Yuna, who was awake, though yawning from just waking up, "We're there." Kimahri was still sleeping, which was just as well… he hadn't been sleeping well.

I slowed the ship again, as we pulled into the port. The guardian machina turned away, ignoring the ship, as I pulled it into dock. I jumped down from the helm, heading straight to the ropes, tying the ship onto the pier. I looked over at Yuna, who was looking pensive, and called out, "Do me a favor, and let Kimahri sleep. Poor guy's seasick. We'll head for Home once he's awake."

Yuna nodded slightly, then covered a yawn. "We'll be safe here?"

I pointed to the machina guards, and said lazily, "Yevon doesn't come here, and no one starts trouble on the docks. Those machina aren't for decoration. And… I've got a rep here, Yuna. No one will bother you, so long as I'm around."

Yuna nodded, and slowly turned, walking back inside. I guess she was going to get some extra shuteye. I didn't blame her, I felt tired too. Extended trips where I'm not walking tend to do that to me as well.

&&&&&

I shook Yuna slightly, making the brown haired apprentice stir slowly, and look up at me tiredly from her berth, a hammock that was one of three in the small room. "Nnn… time to go?"

I nodded, and she slowly shook her head, starting to stretch. With a shake of my head, I walked out, giving Kimahri, who was standing on the pier a slight nod. The Ronso looked happy to be on solid ground, though I didn't blame him the slightest for that.

Yuna came out with a look of steely determination on her face, and motioned for me to lead on. Shaking my head with a grin, I complied. Yuna… she gets strange like that, at times. It's like her inner character, though repressed by Yevon, flashes out at times.

We walked out into the desert, no one giving us warnings since I was recognized as a guy who knew his way to Home blindfolded (sadists did make me do that). After a few minutes, I bopped myself on the head, and cast the modified Blizzard spell on Kimahri, the Ronso shooting me a suspicious look, which I shrugged off with an airy comment of, "Ronso pride does not do well in the desert. Your fur might work well for the mountain, but here, it'll work against you."

Kimahri surprisingly nodded, and didn't comment any further. Yuna gave me a slight smile, the three of us were basically positioned in a flat line, with myself in the center, guiding. We didn't talk much, since Yuna had learned the basics of desert travel – don't waste water (even though it would be a relatively short trip, and each of us had a canteen), and Kimahri was his usual quiet self.

After a half hour, Yuna commented, "Phew. It's harder than I thought… Cabranes, could you cast that spell on me?"

I nodded, and made a gesture. With a burst of cooling air, Yuna was covered with a blue aura, and the air around her visibly cooled. Yuna let out a breath of relief, and I smiled at her absently. "Feeling better?" At her nod, I chuckled, and muttered quietly, "Greenhorns. Can't take the heat…"

Yuna pouted at me, and I laughed, letting her know I was teasing.

We kept on walking, taking on the occasional fiend in our group of three, but some of my handiwork was still present – fiend numbers were low. Our fighting style was simple, really – Kimahri guarded Yuna, and I dealt with the fiends. It was a welcome change from the weaklings at Besaid, since I got to cut loose. Cutting a Zu in two with a single blow was a bit excessive (didn't even use an overdrive), but still enjoyable to fully let loose the power I'd worked so hard to achieve.

We reached the large (and somewhat ugly / squat) building of Home about an hour before sunset. I was a bit disappointed in that there had not been any sandworms to slaughter, but the things were solitary, and rarer than most fiends in Bikanel. Yuna stopped at the sight, and asked me, "Is that… Home?"

I nodded, and turned to look at Yuna curiously. "You've never been here before?"

At her slow shake of head, I exhaled in surprise, then muttered a curse. "Well then, I'm going to show you two around until you get used to the place. Let's get in before the sun sets, it gets cold here fast."

Yuna and Kimahri followed after me as I headed directly for the entryway. The guard (I didn't recognize him, must be new) looked at me suspiciously, and asked, "Fru yna oui?" (Who are you?)

I smirked, and replied in Spiran, "Cabranes. Now alert Cid that I'm here to meet with him, or I'll do it myself."

He narrowed his eyes, and spoke into his radio device (useful things, those). I didn't even have to wait five seconds to hear Cid shouting through the device, "Cabranes, frah E kad so ryhtc uh oui, E's kuehk du syga oui naknad ajan mayjehk dra ecmyht!" (Cabranes, when I get my hands on you, I'm going to make you regret ever leaving the island!)

I took the mike from the startled guard, and shouted back, "Peda sa umt syh! Oui luimth'd syga y fiend vnus Besaid dnaspma, mad ymuha sa! E tuh'd nasaspan oui kuehk du Zanarkand du gelg fiend ycc!" (Bite me old man! You couldn't make a fiend from Besaid tremble, let alone me! I don't remember you going to Zanarkand to kick fiend ass!)

Yuna looked at me in surprise (she must have heard Zanarkand during the discussion), and I shrugged, giving her a weak grin. "Yevon says a lot of things. Doesn't mean we listen to 'em. The fiends are tough, but I set foot on so-called holy ground without being struck dead. Didn't enter the cloister of trials, though, so maybe that's the sacred ground…"

Yuna gave me a long look, before slowly nodding. "I guess I understand… you just sought to fight fiends, not cause trouble?"

I nodded, and she looked somewhat relieved. The look faded though, so I turned, and spotted a chrome-dome and a blond teenager rushing through the corridors. One, the chrome-dome, was shouting threats, while the other was just ignoring him, running far faster than he was. Rikku, unless I missed my guess.

She was the first out, and blew past the startled guard, only giving me a quick glare before she shouted, "Yunie!" and tackled the startled Yuna to the ground in a hug.

I chuckled at the sight, and sent a Fira toward where Cid was about to be, the explosion of flame making him skid to a stop, and giving me enough time to pry Rikku off her startled cousin. I added dryly, "You two need to get together more."

Rikku aimed a punch at me, but the sight of Kimarhi giving her a scowl made her back off, and help Yuna up while keeping an eye on the Ronso. They've all met before, if I remember right, but Kimarhi still creeps Rikku out a bit.

Yuna said, as she got onto her feet, "It's good to see you too, Rikku."

Rikku grabbed Yuna's hand, and spoke quickly, saying, "Yuna, come with me… I want to show you something!"

Yuna nodded, and was led away by Rikku, Kimahri tailing her. I smiled slightly at the sight, and waited for Cid to walk over. When he walked around the hole in the ground, he started up, shouting, "Fryd eh dra hysa uv machina fana oui drehgehk?!!!" (What in the name of machina were you thinking?!!!)

I glared at him, and said coldly, "E hajan bnusecat yhodrehk. Zicd dryd E fuimt gaab yh aoa uh ran. E tet." (I never promised anything. Just that I would keep an eye on her. I did.)

Cid scowled at me, but I had him to rights – he hadn't said 'kidnap my niece'… well, that hadn't been the agreement, though he added that on at the end like a bastard. I kept an eye on her, he got off my case for blowing up the potential airship find when I was fighting off the fiend that guarded it. Weird ass fiend too, almost like a sleigh, with two statues with one arm as the 'dogs'. My overdrive had caused an explosion to destroy the fiend, but I'd put too much energy into it, and nailed the fuel tank of the airship somehow, taking the whole point of the mission out. Hardly my fault though, Spellrage does what it sounds like – sends out destructive spells out in every direction where I perceive a threat to be coming from. I can't get Omega Arts down unfortunately, so I have to make due. He finally responded, "Veha. Oui pnuikrd ran rana du gaab ran cyva druikr?" (Fine. You brought her here to keep her safe though?)

I shook my head, and he sighed. I said softly, "E pnuikrd ran rana du cyo kuutpoa, ev cra fyhdc, yht caa dra rusa ran sudran ryt mejat eh vun y vaf oaync. Hud du mulg ran ib eh dra cyhldis... yht tuh'd dno ed. Cra'c hud ajah y cissuhan oad, cra'c uh ran 'satedydeuh' dneb." (I brought her here to say goodbye, if she wants, and see the home her mother had lived in for a few years. Not to lock her up in the sanctum… and don't try it. She's not even a summoner yet, she's on her 'meditation' trip.)

Cid arched a very faint eyebrow (he was loosing hair there too), then turned, looking toward Home. "Get, cra'c so heala... so pmuut. E ghuf ed'c ran meva, pid E fyhd du bnudald ran... fryd ryc Yevon tuha vun ran?" (Kid, she's my niece… my blood. I know it's her life, but I want to protect her… what has Yevon done for her?)

I whispered softly in response, "Hudrehk pid dno du pnayg ran cbened, yht syga ran lno." (Nothing but try to break her spirit, and make her cry.) I raised my voice, and said sharply, "Lymm sa get ykyeh, yht oui'mm pa cbundehk dfu haf pmylg aoac." (Call me kid again, and you'll be sporting two new black eyes.) Cid didn't respond to the first comment, nor the second, but eventually slumped his shoulders. "E's yvnyet du ycg... pid ryc cra syta oui ran kiynteyh?" (I'm afraid to ask… but has she made you her guardian?)

I shook my head, even though he couldn't see me, and replied, "Cra rych'd ybbuehdat yho oad, yc vyn yc E ghuf. Ed'c buccepma druikr, E kad dra vaamehk dryd cra dnicdc sa suna dryh Wakka un Lulu cusadesac." (She hasn't appointed any yet, as far as I know. It's possible though, I get the feeling that she trusts me more than Wakka or Lulu sometimes.)

Cid snorted, and said, "Knayd. Huf uin daysc femm ryja du vekrd ykyehcd oui du kad du ran. Yht ev dryd yeh'd ahuikr, Yevon'c paah cahtehk uid bnupac, muugehk vun dra vaf cissuhanc fa gethybbat." (Great. Now our teams will have to fight against you to get to her. And if that ain't enough, Yevon's been sending out probes, looking for the few summoners we kidnapped.)

I walked up beside him, and said, "Lyh'd ramb oui drana. Oui ghuf so ubeheuh uh drec." (Can't help you there. You know my opinion on this.)

Cid glared at me, and then nodded. "Tuh'd drehg E tuh'd ryda oui vun ed. Hu uha cruimt drnuf yfyo draen mejac du cyja druca ihknydavim pycdyntc. Pyr... sygehk y cdydia, yht ullyceuhymmo crufehk y cekh uv nacbald..." (Don't think I don't hate you for it. No one should throw away their lives to save those ungrateful bastards. Bah… making a statue, and occasionally showing a sign of respect…)

I chuckled, and walked away. It's an old line of debate between the two of us (when I'm not trying to slug Cid for being an ass), and neither of us can sway the other. So rather than getting into another argument, I followed the path Yuna had been led along, which led to the bazaar that was in the heart of Home.

There was a mass of people, as usual, but instead of walking toward the weapons part of the market, I walked toward where I suspected Rikku would take Yuna, the feminine part of it. A few of the vendors that I knew, I nodded to (earning a surprised look – I'd been away for some time, the rumor mill must have caught on), and eventually found Yuna, with Kimahri serving as bag-carrier, and burdened down with what looked like ten bags. I shook my head, and tapped her on the shoulder, making her whirl in surprise, then blink. "Oh… Cabranes? Rikku said you'd be with Cid for the rest of the day."

I shot a glare at Rikku, and said casually, "Nah. No offense, but… well, we don't get along too well. Ever since I blew up that wreck accidentally…"

Rikku commented in a louder tone, "Ylletahdymmo? Fa luimth'd ajah ica dra clnyb sadym, dra drehk fyc dudymat!" (Accidentally? We couldn't even use the scrap metal, the thing was totaled!)

I chuckled, and said calmly, "Veha. Kad y fiend cxiyt du ryhtma dryd drehk, yht caa ruf famm drao vyen. E pad yd maycd cajahdo veja banlahd lyciymdo nyda." (Fine. Get a fiend squad to handle that thing, and see how well they fair. I bet at least seventy five percent casualty rate.)

Rikku slumped, and said in Spiran, "No bet. They'd be wiped out fighting it, most our squads were turned into machina handling squads, and pops relaxed their training regimen. They're not as insane as you are."

Yuna looked a bit lost, so I said with a shrug, "We were arguing about the fiend that was guarding it. I fought it off by myself, but I doubt a fiend-elimination squad could even survive it, and bet on a casualty rate of seventy five percent."

Yuna remained silent, though she nodded slightly, giving me a weak smile. "I'd agree with you… you're the one that handles any of the fiends that get blown in by storms, and it seems like you're holding back usually."

Rikku walked away, leading Yuna, commenting, "Usually, he is. Until you've seen his insane overkill overdrive, you haven't seen anything yet."

"Limit break overdrive! That's what the Sphere Grid calls it, Rikku! And Yuna will need a few of 'em." Not to mention, it's called Grand Cross, the weaker of the two (just a chain of overdrives with a finishing move)… and that's not even Omega Arts, which I still can't even get to work for me.

Rikku turned at that, and then turned toward the combat section of the fair, Yuna following almost eagerly. I hurried my pace to get beside Yuna, sending Kimahri a sympathetic look as I did so.

Once we were in the area, I took the lead, and found my favorite weapons shop. The old man was a good smith, and knew how to make good weapons. He didn't enchant them with any abilities, but I didn't mind either, you could always go to another booth to get those customized to your personal preference. He gave me a surprised look, then called out, "Yr, Cabranes. E fyc fuhtanehk frah oui fuimt nadinh. E zicd vehecrat y gydyhy, yna oui ehdanacdat?" (Ah, Cabranes. I was wondering when you would return. I just finished a katana, are you interested?)

I shook my head, and said, Hu, E's hud rana vun socamv. E's rana vun cbrana knetc, uha fynneun cad vun y Ronso… uha dyldeleyh. Rikku, oui kud ouinc?" (No, I'm not here for myself. I'm here for Sphere Grids, one warrior set for a Ronso… one tactician. Rikku, you got yours?)

Rikku nodded, while the man went into a bag he kept on him, muttering a few choice profanities under his breath that I heard. He came out with two Sphere Grids, and said, "E vuiht ouin dyldeleyh knet, pid Ronso caddehkc yna rynt du lusa po, hud silr tasyht. Uhmo uha E ryja ec y kahanymecd fedr Ultima ihtan y caneac uv mulgc, pid ed madc dra ican lruuca fradran du pa y fynneun, syka, un dreav fedr y ihmulgehk cbrana." (I found your tactician grid, but Ronso settings are hard to come by, not much demand. Only one I have is a generalist with Ultima under a series of locks, but it lets the user choose whether to be a warrior, mage, or thief with a unlocking sphere.)

I sighed, and said, "Ghufehk dra tasyht vun Ronso cbrana knetc… veha. Kiacc E kuddy red dra Cbrana cdyht, yht belg ib y vaf ihmulganc." (Knowing the demand for Ronso Sphere Grids… fine. Guess I gotta hit the Sphere stand, and pick up a few unlockers.)

The old man sent me an apologetic look, and handed me the two grids. I gave him the Gil in payment, then handed Kimahri the Ronso Grid. He had to set down a few bags, but took it. On realizing what it was, he freed his other hand, and began to carefully examine it, looking toward Yuna once for confirmation. When she nodded, he held it in both hands, sealing it to him, and then began to punch a few keys, examining the settings. He looked up at me once, and I said in Spiran, "You won't find level four unlockers here, they're too damn rare. But level one, two, and three we can buy here, so you can choose your setting. But if you need a three, it'll cost us nearly as much as the whole grid… so don't ask for one unless you're sure beyond a doubt."

Kimahri nodded, and held the head inclination for a brief second, a silent thanks. Rikku arched her eyebrow, and asked, "How much Gil did you pay for that?"

I chuckled, and said, "Regular customer discount. Take the usual price, and shave ten percent off."

Rikku whistled, and I walked toward the mage stand. The woman wasn't as familiar with me as the old man was, but I had been a common sight in the bazaar when I was there, so she nodded a greeting to me, and hardly looked surprised when I stopped inside. I said quietly (since she didn't have much patience for loudmouths), "E haat y freda syka yht pmylg syka Cbrana Knet, uha freda syka cdyvv, yht y ahlryhdat nehk fedr aqdny syhy ahryhlasahdc." (I need a white mage and black mage Sphere Grid, one white mage staff, and a enchanted ring with extra mana enhancements.)

The woman's eyebrows shot up at the requests (Sphere Grids were pricey, and the staff / ring weren't exactly cheap either), but she complied, digging into a nearby bag, asking, "Risyh un Ronso?" (Human or Ronso?)

I responded quickly, "Risyh vun pudr." (Human for both.)

She nodded absently, then produced two Sphere Grids, and then took off a staff from the display, and a gold colored ring, before pausing. She turned to me, and asked, "Ruf silr aqdny syhy?" (How much extra mana?)

I frowned and thought, and finally said, "Veja un dah banlahd." (Five or ten percent.)

She put down the ring, and picked up a silver colored one, adding it to the bag that held the other items. Once that was done, she named a price that made Rikku wince, and I raised my eyebrow at. "Oui'na zugehk, nekrd?" (You're joking, right?)

The woman frowned at me, and said, "Oui'na kejehk ed du Yevonites, lunnald? Cid'c untanc, fa kad yc silr Gil vnus dras yc fa lyh…" (You're giving it to Yevonites, correct? Cid's orders, we get as much Gil from them as we can…)

Rikku interrupted, "Vunkad dryd, ed'c vun dra aqbnacc binbuca uv kiyntehk uha uv uin ufh." (Forget that, it's for the express purpose of guarding one of our own.)

The woman looked Rikku over, then shrugged, and named a much more sane price, of about one hundred fifty thousand Gil. I had that much (after all, fiend slaying can rack up quite a large amount of Gil), and drained about half that remained of my supply of Gil, giving it to her in exchange. Once that was done, I handed Yuna the staff, ring, and Sphere Grid, which she looked at in shock, saying hesitantly after she sealed it to her (I'd shown her, and Kimahri, how to), "It feels like my magic is more powerful… and more abundant…"

Rikku said with a smile, "Sphere Grids do that to you. Put the ring on, Cabranes bargained for a special one."

Yuna gave me a skeptical look for a moment, then slowly placed it on her left ring finger (she was right handed), before a soft glow enveloped her. "Oh…"

Rikku chuckled, and said, "Told you. Now come on, I only have ten days here before I have to leave on a mission."

I prevented Rikku from leaving with Yuna until we had a few unlocking spheres, and a few general spheres, and had taught the two of them how to use them on a Sphere Grid. After that, I relieved Kimahri of his bags, and took them to Rikku's room (she was still living with Cid), and dumped them, before walking to my room to catch some shuteye.