Chapter: 2
It wasn't long at all when we set sail for Besaid Island. It was really strange not seeing tall buildings or cities. I felt pretty foriegn to this world. Everything that I once knew was gone... Destroyed... I left a recording behind in those woods, hoping one day, if my son were to ever come to this world, he would find it and understand he might be stuck here like I am. Getting the news that a thousand years had passed... I was growing doubtful that I would ever go back home... That wouldn't mean though I was gonna throw in the towel. I aint giving up. Braska seems to have faith where we are going is my home! Yet... Hearing how it was in ruins... My Zanarkand... Unless if I was just sent to the future... Maybe I'm over thinking all this.
As the boat came to a halt, I jumped off and made a run for it, not caring that I was kicking up sand that was slowing me down. I could hear Auron shouting at me. I wanted to know if she was here. Was she all right? Was s he even alive? It was a pretty small area so searching only took minimal time.
"Have you found her?" Braska asked as they finally caught up to me.
I was just at the entrance after checking every hut I saw other than the temple. I only shook my head as my answer once I saw that Auron had a sphere out for recording. I didn't care too much for it. I just wanted to move on. I walked up on ahead hearing those two talk about Yuna and bringing her here once he defeated Sin.
"Listen, Braska," I said as they finally ended their little talk and Auron putting that sphere away.
They both looked at me.
"I really do like that idea. And if I can't go home... This seems like a nice place to settle."
"You are giving up that quickly," Auron questioned me with that tone of his I didn't like.
"It's just a back up plan, all right!? It's just in case if I can't go home!"
"We will see," Braska stepped in. "So you didn't find her. We can still ask around. Maybe someone has seen her. I have to go into the temple and do my part. We will leave as soon as possible."
Maybe I was just doubting myself a bit too soon, too easily. Braska was sure about all this. His hopes were high. Not once have I seen this man have second guesses. He wouldn't give up without a fight, that's for sure... It took him hours inside that chamber after the trials, maybe even the whole day. I have seen him fall from exhaustion. If praying to an aeon took this much energy out of ya, I would give up right then and there. I heard some can die from doing this. Yeah, not exactly my ball to be handling and bringing to the goal. We would leave tomorrow once he felt better and gotten his strength back with a good dose of sleep.
Auron said he asked around about this girl. I just stared into the flames of the camp fire outside, just letting my mind sink more and more into all this.
"Well we know she is alive," he explained as he sat next to me. "She was here. The priest said she asked for only a bit of money to be on her way."
I just sat there still not moving an inch.
"You don't look happy about the news..."
"I can't exactly just get up and find her, now can I... I am happy to hear she is alive. At the same time, my duty lies with Braska so I have to wait. I am a guardian after all..."
"I do wonder why she didn't just stay here..."
"She might be looking for me, too, Auron..."
"I suppose you're right."
"Did they say where she was headed?"
"To Luca, where the Blitzball stadium is."
A wide smile formed on my face. That's a place I wanted to go to so badly now. I would put on a show in hopes she would be there watching.
"We will be heading that way if we wanted to get to Zanarkand anyway..."
I grabbed his shoulders and laughed. "This is perfect! I can show off my skills and get the crowd roaring! She would know it would be me!"
I could hear a bit of laughter from a hut as Braska was coming out of it. Man, did he look dead beat still!
"Then we should leave now if we hope to catch up to her," Braska stated.
Auron stood from his seat. "Lord Braska... You still need to rest..."
"I can rest on the way there. It wont be an issue at all."
I stood up. "Then lets get going. We'll make sure you get plenty of rest the whole way. So uh... Where is our next stop anyway?"
"To the fire temple in Kilika," Braska answered simply. "Then after that, to Luca where you can have your fun. I would love to see you play some time!"
Of course though we had to wait till a ride was available. That was by first thing in the morning and I made haste. Sort of in a way, I felt like I was only using them to just get home. I mean yeah I was helping them out to take down Sin, but what if I do go back home? I was growing close to them after all... I guess not being around my wife and kid had me feel different. I felt disconnected completely... To be honest, I thought I would never think this... I wanna hear him yell at me again... Then not talk to me for a week. I made him so mad at me a lot. Maybe... Maybe I was pushing it a bit too far... Maybe I was drinking too much... Maybe he was right... Yeah... I think that girl was right, too... She did try to have that runt understand me after all.
And what am I doing right now? Trying to drown my sorrows while watching the waves of the ocean as we sail.
"You are drinking again?" I heard Auron say to me like he was slightly scolding me.
I kind of found that funny. "Yeah, so?"
"You are wasting money on your own wants. You don't need to do this..."
"I can quit tomorrow... Whenever I wanted," I scoffed.
"Do you hold those words true...?"
"Yeah, yeah..." I just waved it off. "You're too uptight... Learn to relax and just cut loose. Enjoy the scene! Take that stick out of your ass."
I couldn't remember what happened beyond that point. I guess I got too drunk. I found myself on the floor and my shoulder was hurting bad. It took me a while to finally sit up and see Braska just staring at me. I guess i fell on my shoulder.
"I was about to wake you," he told me.
Before I could stand, I felt ice cold water hit me. That got me standing quicker than a chocobo having a few feathers pulled out and then it running away. I turn around and found Auron with a bucket. He just shrugged while Braska laughed. I was pissed, but that went right out the window as I keeled over and just let my stomach empty out.
"Feeling better?" Auron asked me as he rubbed my back.
I swear this was payback. Well, I took charge in cleaning up my own mess before getting off the boat this time. Again, we waited for hours and again, we had to spend another night waiting for Braska to recover. Before we even got here, it was the first I ever seen monsters around. To put into simple terms, ghosts that envied the living to where they become fiends...
Wherever you are, boy, you better be doing anything but crying... Your mom needs you more than anything...
