Acceptance
The silent Farplane greeted him with its beautiful scenery. If only this place wasn´t the final resting place for dead people´s souls...
... No use thinking about that. He should do what he came to do here. He chose the same spot again. This is where he and Seymour took care of that Sinspawn and where they talked about... not doing enough? And their parents...
Speaking of parents invoked the pyreflies and they formed into his mother again. Funny, how things ended up. His Zanarkand vanished along with his old life. If his mother accepted death while she was still alive, then maybe he should accept his new life in Spira as well.
"Your mother – she was pretty." Yuna´s voice startled him as she stood before him. What should one say to that?
"Uh... thanks? It´s obvious I have my good looks from her and not my old man. " Yuna giggled. "That wasn´t very nice, you know? Why do you hate Sir Jecht so much?"
"It´s... a long story. He never acted as a father. That´s all I´ll say. And he..." Tidus stopped in the middle of his sentence. "Look, Yuna. If I accept Seymour´s offer... what will you do?"
Yuna smiled. "I trust you know what you´re doing. If you want to really help Spira and you feel that Seymour could help with that, then I would let you go. I have a question for you, though. "
"You can ask me anything, Yuna."
"Ookaay... So... why do you trust him so much?"
Tidus glanced at his mother, who was smiling - just like in the old days. "I do not know that myself. I just feel that I should do whatever I can to stop Sin and I think that I am not doing enough. " Those were Seymour´s words. He really thinks that he´s not doing enough.
Yuna blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that? You´ve helped us plenty already. "
Tidus shook his head. She didn´t understand. Spira´s suffering may be connected to him. His old man. If what Seymour and Auron said is true – then how should he apologize to them? Heck - to the whole Spira?!
"It´s just that..." He didn´t know if he ever should tell Yuna and others about the possibility of Sin being his old man. They would probably end up hating him. Auron will keep it a secret until he decides to tell them.
His path was laid out in front of him. He should do his best, too. Sin destroyed his Zanarkand and he could easily destroy Spira. That is something he doesn´t want to witness again. And if Seymour...
"Son of Jecht, Lady Yuna...what a coincidence. " Seymour´s voice brought Tidus back to reality as he turned. Everyone else just quitened down and observed them. "Seymour..." He started.
"Ah, I see you´ve made your decision. But for now, let us go back to mansion. It´s getting late and either way me and Lady Yuna leave early. I will hear your response there."
"Alright. Let´s."
Rikku and Auron stayed outside the Farplane – both seemed to have a strong reason not to enter. Auron said something about not belonging there and Rikku said that memories are nice, but that´s all they are. In a way, she was right. Seeing his mom really made him mad at old man again, but then again, it also helped him to make up his mind.
"Thanks for waiting!" Yuna said.
Tidus stopped awkwardly. "We´re going to the mansion again."
A few Guado who wanted to enter the Farplane gasped. Tidus and everyone else quickly looked at the entrance.
"Lord Jyscal!"
The previous Maester of Yevon slowly stumbled forward, looking at his son who was frozen on the spot next to Yuna and Tidus.
"He does not belong here." Auron said.
"Why... are you here... father?!" Seymour questioned.
"Yuna, send him." She glanced at Auron and stared at the son and father looking at each other.
She made a few steps, but Seymour stopped her. "Lady Yuna... I should send him."
Seymour approached him and stopped before the veil separating them. "Father..."
"He is your father no longer! Send him now!" Tidus said.
Seymour stared at his dead father. Then he made a gesture and the pyreflies disappeared one by one slowly. Seymour sank to his knees. A sphere dropped from the former maester´s disappearing body. Seymour reluctantly picked it up and hid it before anyone could see it.
Tidus knelt down next to him, not finding comforting words right now, so instead he put his hand on his shoulder reassuringly. The look on his face was beyond sad – it was twisted in pain. Tidus felt how something stung him in his heart. He forced him to stand up.
"Talk later, we leave now." Auron said in a somehow pained manner. Then it finally all fell into one piece – Auron was an unsent, probably. That´s why he didn´t want to enter Farplane.
But right now, Seymour needed all his attention. He looked as if he burried his father, again. Who send him in the first place?
...Seymour?
No wonder he´s so depressed. Tidus squeezed his fingers. Seymour glanced at him while they were descending the stairs.
Yuna, Rikku and Wakka were walking in front of Auron, Lulu and Kimahri. Tidus walked in the back with Seymour.
"What... what was that just now? That really Lord Jyscal?" Tidus felt the urge to kick Wakka for his insesibility. Why didn´t he get that Seymour probably doesn´t want to talk about what happened?
But alas, idiocy was contagious.
"He wasn´t sent, so he became a fiend, right?" Rikku added her part to conversation.
"I would think he was sent once..." Lulu said.
Tidus was getting annoyed. Really, they all needed to get a clue. They were talking about Seymour´s father as if he wasn´t even there! Tidus was very suprised when finally Seymour snapped out of his... whatever. You get the idea.
"The one who sent him was me." Seymour finally spoke, but it was almost inaudible. " But he stayed on Spira. Something... a powerful emotion could have bound him to this world. Such things happen."
Rikku turned a bit to see the maester. "But that´s against the rules, isn´t it?"
Auron finally said what everyone had on their mind. "It means he died and unclean death."
Tidus watched as Seymour looked down again, that same sad expression was visible on his face. But only Tidus saw it. At least others finally showed some sensibiliy and didn´t look at them.
Seymour didn´ say a word when they reached the mansion and he withdrew to his chamber. Tidus understood how he felt. He probably wanted to be alone, but he wouldn´t leave someone hurt alone.
Yuna and her guardians stayed at the inn. Tidus was walking around in circles, thinking about the situation. That´s when Yuna approached him and gave him a solemn look. "You should go and see him. I know you´ve made your decision."
Tidus stared at her for a while. "But... can a guardian stop being a guardian and switch to another summoner?"
"This is no obligation. We all are here because we want to be here. And if you want to go and be Lord Seymour´s guardian, then we can´t hold you off. However..." Lulu said and was inrerrupted by Kimahri.
"No matter what, Tidus will stay Tidus. "
Tidus smiled at that. Ronso spoke so mysteriously, but he grasped what he meant. That they will stay friends even if he isn´t Yuna´s guardian anymore.
Tidus bowed down in front of everyone." Thank you all for being here for me. I am happy that I met you. I´ve learned many things from you. I have gotten stronger. Yuna, thank you for letting me be your guardian. "
Yuna teared up and hugged him. Tidus returned the hug. "Group hug!" Rikku said and hugged them both. Wakka giggled at that and joined them, too. Heck, even Lulu and Kimahri joined the group hugging. Auron was very reluctant, but in the end he scoffed. "Kids. Alright." And he joined them.
Tidus felt as a smile cracked up on his face. When they let go of him, he was on the verge of tears. Somehow, they have become important to him. And now leaving them was going to be hard.
"Take it easy, kiddo, ya? It´s not like we won´t see each other ever again. " Wakka said.
"This isn´t a goodbye. " Lulu said in her slightly changed voice filled with emotions.
Rikku pinched him. "Join the competition, have we? Anyway, don´t overdo it. "
Kimahri was growing embarrassed a bit. "Do not frown. If you try too much and it proves difficult, remember what Kimahri said. Tidus will stay Tidus."
Auron somewhat smiled. "I had my doubts about you in the beginning, but they are long gone. "
Yuna wiped away the forming tears. "Everyone is right. This isn´t like we won´t see each other again. Believe in yourself and everything will be fine. Now go and save Spira, Tidus. I... we are counting on you and Lord Seymour."
Tidus grinned at them." Alright! It´s time to find my summoner and tell him. So... I´ll see you all later!"
He ran out of the small inn towards the mansion. Tidus bumped into Tromell and he held him so that the older Guado didn´t fall. " Sorry about that. I have made my decision. Where is Seymour?"
"Oh, my. Youth these days... what? You´ve decided? So soon?"
"I intend to accept. I hope... he isn´t too... shaken up after that incident at Farplane."
"Well... Lord Seymour is trying so hard to hide his pain, but I know better... he doesn´t want to show weakness. As a leader of Guado, he cannot let others see him like that. However... a guardian should stay by a summoner´s side."
Tidus nodded. He knew that he should do that. "Right. Gonna have to cheer up the summoner! So, where is he exactly?"
"In his private chambers. "
"Thank you."
Tidus ran up the stairs and reached the last chamber, thinking that it must be Seymour´s. He knocked first. Even he had learned some manners.
"Tromell. I do not wish to be disturbed."
Tidus entered the bedroom, albeit hesitantly. Seymour was looking out the small window. When he turned to see the younger man, his facial expression changed from sad to serious. He approached him. "Ah, so it´s you. Have you decided yet?"
"Yes. It will be an honor to be your guardian."
Seymour finally cracked a smile. "Your decision will save Spira. I am glad that you have accepted my offer. I wouldn´t set out on a pilgrimage if you didn´t agree. However, my journey is different from Lady Yuna´s and other summoners. My aeon, Anima is all I require. And of course, you. Now that you´ll be my guardian, I must tell you about something important."
"And what is it?"
Seymour sighed. "For a long time, I´ve had a feeling that Spira is being fooled. Ever since my father mysteriously died – and I became the Maester – other Maesters have become very secretive as if they were watching out for my actions. I had a bad feeling that Yevon might be connected to Sin in a way. I know all the teachings and yet they have allowed the tragedy at Operation Mi´hen. All of this is very repulsing and I must confess... I do not trust Yevon so much as before."
Tidus leaned on the wall. "So, what are we going to do?"
"We shall learn the truth. About Yevon, Sin... and how my father died. I have a suspicion that he was murdered."
Tidus was shocked. "How terrible! Who would do such a thing?"
"I do not know that... yet. Son of Jecht, you can stay for tonight in one of guest rooms. We leave tomorrow early."
Tidus grinned. "Oh come on already. Call me Tidus. I am going to be your partner in this, won´t I? There is no need for titles."
Seymour faintly smiled. "Well then, Tidus. Get some sleep. Be ready to leave early. We have a lot of ground to cover."
Tidus grinned. "Will do. Good night, Lord Seymour."
He was about to leave when Seymour spoke up. "Just call me Seymour."
Tidus almost chuckled. That man really learned fast.
"And... Tidus."
The younger one turned to see the face of Guado glimmering in the light illuminating from many, many candles. "Do not tell anyone about our plans. Not even Lady Yuna or your friends. This is something only between us."
"I won´t tell anyone. You trust me this much. We will stop Sin... no matter what."
Seymour bowed. "Good night, my guardian."
Tidus exited the older one´s bedroom and went to search for that guest room he spoke off. He was so lost in his thought that he bumped into Tromell, again. "Oh, I am sorry. Seymour told me to get some sleep... we leave early."
The old Guado shook his head, apparently not approving of something. "Even if you´re to be his guardian, you should call him Lord Seymour as do we all who serve him."
Tidus blinked. "But he himself told me to call him just by his name, Tromell."
Tromell didn´t believe what he heard. Lord Seymour wasn´t the type to just abort proper social adressing. Maybe Lord Seymour was finally warming up to someone? It was a good sign.
The old Guado nodded, this time in approval. "Then, let me show you to your room. "
When they reached it and Tromell left him alone, Tidus fell on the bed, really exhausted. But he couldn´t sleep. His conversation with Seymour was constantly on his mind. Why would someone murder his father? Has his death really something to do with Yevon? Or Sin? Or maybe both? Were they really connected somehow? Tidus groaned at himself as he pulled on the blanket. "Aaah! That´s it! Stop thinking and go to sleep!"
He closed his eyes, but somehow sleep evaded him for some time. And when he finally fell asleep, he dreamt of a Guado enveloped in the shadow of mystery.
