Paine threw her blade.
Wielding the celestial weapon was about more than just practicing stances and growing accustomed to the motions. A master of the blade learned to do more with it. She would need to command it and summon it on a whim. She learned that the knight and the sword were, in many ways, one. The blade needed to become part of her soul.
Paine had learned to control her blade in such a way—usually. Today, the weapon's massive weight was difficult to handle under her stress. She kept moving slowly and losing balance in the sand. The massive blade was nearly as tall as her, its edges carved symmetrically in lavish curves. The runes inscribed on the fuller were an ancient text, reminiscent of a primitive time long before machina or summoners. Paine growled in frustration, pacing back and forth on the plateau, hand at her side constantly resheathing her weapon. Getting the form just perfect with such a heavy weapon was tiring.
She wore her plate under her cloak, too, without a helm so her silver hair blew free in the morning breeze. Her head still ached when she thought of the disaster that happened at sea. She lost her airship and almost her partner; she could not afford such a careless tragedy to happen again if she was with Yuna.
"Where did you find that?" the brutish, square-jawed Wakka said, startling her. She was jumpy, having stayed up all night, sitting on the beach in view of Yuna's home, wearing her armor, arms crossed on her knees, pondering her recent failures.
"Cid gave it to me. It was Auron's right?"
"Masamune," Wakka confirmed, looking at the blade with nostalgic awe. "Legendary guardian, that Auron. No way we would have done what we did without him, ya? Well, I suppose I should be glad that old scoundrel Cid hadn't pawned this off to some kid punks who wouldn't appreciate it!"
Paine shook the dew that had condensed onto the metal, then lay it out flat on her palms for Wakka to admire clearly.
"Yeah, thats it alright. No other craft like that. I'm sure you'll do old Auron proud with it."
"Thanks."
"Hey look," Wakka scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I'm sorry about yesterday, okay? You're not so bad, ya? We're more than just a little overprotective of Yuna these days. But I know you had her back too once upon a time and I don't think you'd go around lying about something like Sin."
"Its okay." Paine walked to the edge of the small rocky cliff, staring out over the expanse of great ocean. A huddle of three men watched her from the shore below. Laughable. What would three blitzball players do if Sin returned?
"Well I just came to tell you Yuna's out and awake. I think she's saying her goodbyes, and we'll all be leaving to Kilika tonight. We gotta catch that boat when it goes back. Here we had just gotten back too..." his voice faded while he walked away and Paine focused on her thoughts.
Lulu had said that Tidus was not a real person, but a sort of aeon, but there was still something strange about him. He looked suspiciously like Shuyin; though instead of being decidedly hateful at everything, he was always smiling. And if he was a summon, who was his summoner? Was it Yuna?
She was also acting strange, in ways Paine couldn't put to words. Her guardians were just doing their duty, so there was no use in getting angry at them. But Paine couldn't shake the feeling something greater was going on with this group that supposedly defeated Sin seven years ago, whether Yuna knew it herself or not. And now, wielding one of the legendary Auron's old weapons, fate was trying to make her one of them. Even still, Paine felt like an outsider among them.
Paine gripped the hilt of Masamune tightly in her fingers again. She always felt a great strength when holding it. Even stranded at sea and surrounded by Sinspawn, certain she was going to die, she'd still felt power with this weapon.
Where was that feeling now?
She spun and threw the weapon, focusing as Gippal had taught her, sending a direct instruction to the blade, imagining the destruction she wanted to imbue. It held true, spinning end over end out of her hand, flashing in the air and soaring over Wakka's head. It had nearly cut that ridiculous spike of hair sculpted over his forehead. Paine let out the breath she had been holding. Finally, she achieved the technique she wanted.
"Hey, watch what you're doing, ya? You trying to kill me out here?"
"Lets go," Paine brushed past him with a slight smirk, picking up the sword and fastening it in its sheath on her back.
Paine entered Besaid temple at midday. Ducking into the shadowy interior as like entering a cave. She glanced around the perimeter of the inside where a few people were usually in meditation. They were all outside, celebrating the blitzball win, except one person. Paine stepped along the dusty marble flooring, under the shadows of the side of the room to the back of the chamber where Tidus lay.
Poor guy, Paine thought. I arrived and completely ruined their victory celebrations. How could it feel to exist attached to a world where you aren't real? He had disappeared once and been allowed back by some miracle, but so far no one noticed anything suspicious about him. Practically the entire world just knew him as Yuna's husband, a wild, jovial guy from Besaid who was once her guardian and happened to be really good at blitzball.
Wakka came in behind Paine to see Tidus, then snorted to himself in amusement. He'd likely known about Tidus' secret as long as Yuna; those two guys were like best friends.
The more Paine heard about Tidus the more she wanted to know about him. Outside of the blitzball games, kids and fans went out of their way to try and get a peek at him. Everyone wanted to know more about the guy who settled down and married high summoner Yuna, and dominated the blitzball scene in Spira. It made sense why the guardians in Besaid also kept Tidus as far from prying eyes as possible. Everyone speculated what wild practice routines he must go through, and what amazing power he must have had to travel with Yuna. Here was the great Tidus, curled up in the shadows of a musty temple so no one could see him.
"Hey there," Paine called to him. She kneeled beside him in his wet, tousled clothes.
Wakka entered and sat at Tidus' feet.
"Is he alright?" Paine asked.
Wakka spoke quietly. "He just likes to think sometimes. Never used to. Its like daydreaming. He liked to think about his old Zanarkand. One time, I heard him mumble about spirits, thrashing and telling them to keep away. He opened his eyes. He didn't seem to see me, but he saw something alright."
Pyreflies? Paine thought, feeling a chill.
"Here's the thing," Wakka said. "Something we always talk about. Spira's got nothing left to believe in. Everything we thought we knew about the world is still unknown to us, ya? So we find that all this Yevon teachings and scriptures was all for nothing. Then who's responsible for creating all this? The fayth, the summonings, and the Farplane—sometimes I sit and think where it all comes from. Even he thinks about it too."
Paine didn't have the time to worry about all of that."Things don't need a reason for existing. They just do, and we make the most of it."
Wakka stood, chuckling. "Rikku told me something like that before. I know that kind of thinking works for some people, but not me. I want to believe that there is something waiting for our souls and that we don't just stop existing. I feel that if anyone in this world is closest to that answer, its him." He sighed and stood, leaving the temple with slumped shoulders.
Paine watched Tidus for a long while, trying to gather her thoughts and emotions. "Why now?" she whispered. "What is it out there? After you've been here with Yuna all of these years, whats changed?"
Of course, Paine was ahead of herself. She didn't know for certain Tidus' existence here had anything to do with that mass of power out there over the ocean. She only had assumptions and hopes like the rest. No, not hopes—fears. How would Spira react to the return of Sin? Paine hadn't considered the possibility that if they approached the Spiran Council that rumors could be started. Everyone might think that Yuna's claim of the Eternal Calm was fraudulent.
"I hear you were quite close with Auron," Paine said, setting the Masamune blade down next to the sleeping Tidus. They keep endlessly praising Auron's wisdom—so what would he do?
"Anyway, I know what its like to feel like an outcast. To be part of a group where you feel like you don't belong—its all I've ever been. Crimson Squad, Gullwings, and with you guys. Yuna has only known me for a little while by comparison. It makes me want to be alone, but then when I am alone, I can't stand it."
"I feel exactly the same way," Tidus said out of the quiet, startling her. Paine had been speaking with the air, not actually expecting him to respond.
"How long have you been listening?"
"I heard Wakka leave and was waiting for you too also," he laughed, sitting up. "But here you are."
Tidus' chipper attitude was contagious; Paine smiled. "You're not all that bad. Its stupid, but," she paused. "I used to hate you because Yuna was so into you. She risked everything in her life to find you back then. I couldn't figure out why."
"To tell you the truth," Tidus stood and stretched. "I don't know why either!"
"What a typical, pathetic response. Its totally something Gippal would say."
"Gippal? The Al Bhed guy?"
"The one and only."
"Oh, so he's your boyfriend!"
Paine stopped, stuttered and almost blushed, chagrined at the remark. Why would he say something like that? She fumbled to pick up her sword and straighten her coat when she turned her back to leave. "I'm going to go find Yuna."
"Hey what did I say?" he persisted. "I can't wait to meet him."
She marched out of the temple indignantly. Just keep walking. Stare straight ahead, maybe he'll get the idea and won't follow me.
"Hey!" Tidus yelled, stepping after her. She sighed. "Yuna told me we're going to see Gippal in Bevelle. He'll be happy to be re-acquianted with you, then!"
Pained turned around with a clenched fist. "Did Yuna also tell you my fist can get re-acquainted with your nose?"
Tidus continued gallivanting around her. "Hey, don't be like that. Sheesh, are you sure all you got was Auron's old sword? I think someone gave you his good manners too!"
"Did I say I used to hate you? I think I still do."
He blinked in surprise, but continued following while she pretended to know where she was going. Didn't this guy ever give up?
"Hey, Paine?" Tidus continued. "Why is it you came to Yuna first? I mean, she hasn't practiced magic or summoning in years. Why is it you want Yuna to do this so much when there are so many others out there practicing new magic right now? I mean, she's popular with the people, but the Spiran Council wants nothing to do with her. Thats why she stays here, you know, to not get involved in all of that anymore."
"We consider their disdain for her a refreshing sign. She's stopped Sin and Vegnagun. She knows what it takes."
At this subject, Tidus stopped smiling. He was the most tense she'd ever seen him when he was talking about protecting Yuna. "She rejected supporting anyone," he said. "Since then, they still only see her as some kind of a heretic who could threaten the order."
"She refused to be strung along with the system that promoted lies perpetuated by the old maesters. She's free from them, and open to take any action she needs to."
Tidus snorted and his tone changed instantly. "You and Auron really would have made a pair! I think whenever I start to miss him, I'm just going to talk to you."
"You should go now," Paine said, nodding toward the gathering of the uniformed Aurochs in front of them. "Blitzball practice?"
"Eh, I'll go give them one last Jecht shot before I go! Oh yeah, and Paine? I know you said you've never gotten too attached to groups. But I really think you should ask Yuna to officially become her guardian, like one of us. Thats just what I think, anyway. She's not a summoner anymore, but we all still live and work hard to protect her, so in our own way, we're always her guardians." Tidus finally sprinted off, kicking up wet sand behind him and striking the blitzball the Aurochs threw at him with an acrobatic whirling kick. "Just think about it, alright?" he called back with an insufferable smirk.