Disclaimer: I don't own anything recognizable in this story. They are owned by Square Enix. I just play with their characters. Familiar dialogues came from the game script.
Chapter 3: In Between
Auron
The problem with traveling across dimensions through Sin was you never know where you end up.
That was what happened the first time I travelled through Sin–no, with Jecht–to Zanarkand. I think I woke up in a fishing boat. The captain said they found me floating along the deep ends of the sea, and they threw their nets at me just to get me.
This time? Waking up on a king-sized bed in a room filled with chocobo-patterned curtains wasn't what I had in mind, but it was better than getting washed up on some unknown Spiran shore. I heard the door open, and a blonde-haired Al Bhed walked towards me.
"Ah, I see you are now awake." He said, and he pulled the chair that was tucked neatly below a dresser and sat.
"Where am I?" I sat up, my legs feeling like they were made of gelatin.
"Calm Lands." He replied. "One of my chocobo herders found you unconscious at The Scar. You gave them quite a fright too. It isn't everyday that a Legendary Guardian gets seen in these lands accompanied by Sin."
His voice was lightly laced with suspicion. I didn't mind it. People can fabricate stories over their deductions regarding the Legendary Guardian and Sin. It will just be another tale.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Sin was momentarily here, hanging out on the waters beyond the cliffs, as recounted by my herders. And yet he never harmed anyone. Not even a fly."
"It must be suffering from a mood swing."
"Even so, we considered ourselves luckier than a person who had amassed fifty luck spheres." He said, an amused expression on his face. "Ah, I seem to have forgotten my manners. I'm Rin, owner of the several Travel Agencies across Spira. I am pleased to be at your service, Sir Auron."
"Please. Just Auron." I always cringed at the appellation the Yevon Church added to my name. As if it was enough consolation for the price of losing my two best friends.
"Auron, then. You know, this isn't the first time that we have met."
I found his statement interesting. I was sure that I have never met him before. I raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to continue.
"I found you severely wounded down the base of Gagazet once, months after the start of the last Calm. My staff and I did our best to tend to your injuries. There was quite a lot. I was surprised to see you gone the next day though."
"I see." So he was there when I crawled my way down Gagazet after Yunalesca defeated and nearly killed me. My mind immediately searched for a seemingly plausible excuse that was not far from the truth. "I was attacked by a fiend. Forgive me, I hardly remember that day. Perhaps I left so that I would not impose on you any longer."
"No matter. Though I am glad that we found you today without a scratch on you. I prepared a meal. If you would be so kind to continue our conversation in the dining area." Rin said. I supposed he had lots of questions for me. Like where I had been for the last ten years and what I had been doing. Normal questions. But they are the ones I usually preferred not to answer.
"Thank you for your generosity, but I'm leaving immediately." I stood up and grabbed my red coat that hung by the coat rack. Already, my mind is telling me that the plan started badly. I didn't factor getting separated from the kid. I had to find Tidus and find him quickly.
"Then I will prepare the best of our chocobos for you." Rin nodded, a bit dejected that we couldn't converse more.
"Thank you. I would require some supplies too."
"Of course." He said, before stepping out of the room.
"Wait." I called out to Rin, and he stopped just before the ajar door. "What date is it now?"
Rin's eyebrows furrowed. I knew he was thinking about how in the world I could forget today's date, aside from the fact that I got washed up on Calm Lands accompanied by Sin. Nevertheless, he said the date with a rueful smile, "First day of the 2nd week of Spring. The Blitzball Playoffs is right around the corner."
Yes, the Blitzball tournament was usually held on the third week of Spring. I wondered if that's where I'll find Tidus. I had to go to Luca to find out. Already my mind was preparing itself for the journey to the major city.
"Thank you." I said to Rin.
He went outside of the room, and I followed him within a few moments after I straightened my coat. Once outside of the agency, I took a deep breath, examining carefully my surroundings. There was a chocobo pen on my right. My eyes gazed over beyond the agency behind me. The mountains of Gagazet was looming over me. On my left were the famous cliffs of Calm Lands. The Scar was the battle ground of the Summoner using the final Aeon to defeat Sin.
Welcome back to Spira, Auron. It's been a long time.
I looked up to the sky with my one good eye, saw the sun shining, and squinted. I noticed I didn't have my usual eyewear.
Yes, I would also need new sunglasses.
