Chapter Three
Ship to Luca
Half way to Luca, Tidus finds himself thinking about his father and tries not to become depressed when he over hears the group of people surrounding Yuna talking about her father's achievements. Kyota sitting by Jaidon feels Tidus' foul mood and whines softly causing Jaidon to wrap his arms around her. "What's wrong Kyota?" The blind summoner asks his faithful pet quietly. The coeurl nudges his head towards where Tidus is leaning against the railing looking out over the ocean. "Tidus you have Kyota worrying about you." Jaidon says to the blonde blitzer making the teen turn to look at them. "Sorry I just can't seem to stop thinking about my old man." The coeurl helps her summoner to stand and move over to Tidus. Jaidon ponders Tidus' words for a moment before asking, "Do you really hate your father?" The blonde sighs and makes a noise of confirmation as he turns back to the ocean. "He was the reason I became a blitzball player. He had the biggest ego of my family just because he was the captain of his team and had this shot named after himself. I've tried to master it myself a lot of times but I couldn't do it because I kept hearing his voice in my head telling me how pathetic I was every time I missed." Jaidon reaches out and grasps Tidus' hand giving him whatever comfort he can as he says, "Maybe if you thought about something other than your father you might succeed in mastering his shot." Tidus smiles a little at Jaidon's attempt to make him feel better but still sighs sadly. "I wish I could but my old man's voice is always there whenever I try."
Kyota does not like seeing her friend so sad so she sets off to find a blitzball for him to practice with. The coeurl walks past Kimahri and Yuna as she searches for a ball. Near the back of the lower deck she finally finds one not being used and uses her nose to dribble it to Tidus. Kyota paws at Tidus' leg to get him to look at her before she lowers her head to push the ball towards him. From his spot Kimahri watches Kyota's actions and decides to translate for her in that moment. "Kyota wants Tidus try father's shot until mastered." Tidus blinks a few times before reaching down to pick up the blitzball before looking back at Kyota. "You really think I can do it?" The coeurl nuzzles his leg before nudging him towards the back. Jaidon smiles softly as he hears Kyota's soft purr. "Kyota believes you can do it Tidus and so do I." Jaidon says as he reaches out for Kyota to lead him to cheer Tidus on as he tries to master his father's shot.
Tidus sets the ball down on the deck and takes a deep breath to try and calm his tension. By the railing to his left he hears Jaidon say, "Calm your thoughts and believe in yourself before you try. That's how I master the spells my mother taught me. I empty my mind of all thoughts and then let one that makes me believe in myself shine bright and soon I'm able to master any spell I feel like learning. Speaking of I might just ask Lulu to teach me some black magic later on so I can help out a little more on really tough fiends." Tidus laughs loudly at that thought and turns to Jaidon saying, "If Lulu can actually look less scary while teaching you I'll kiss you." Jaidon turns bright red with that comment before he turns his face away from his blitzball playing guardian. Tidus snickers before he takes Jaidon's advice and clears his mind of all thoughts. A few moments later Yuna and Kimahri come over to watch Tidus practice. While Yuna and Kyota cheer him on Kimahri tells Jaidon about Saorta. After a few hours Tidus perfects the shot and is literally shocked when he hears everyone around him cheering but it is Jaidon's voice he focuses on the most as he looks at his summoner. "You did it, Tidus! I never had a doubt." The blonde blitzer finds himself feeling all warm and fuzzy inside as he hears Jaidon's excitement over his achievement. Before he can thank those that are cheering one of the crewmen shouts out that they have arrived at Luca. Tidus follows everyone's gaze and sees the city of Luca and is reminded of Zanarkand. His good mood dampens a bit at his memory of Zanarkand's destruction.
Luca
The ship stops at a dock and the people leave it in groups before an announcer announces the Kilika Beasts', Luca Goers', and Besaid Aurochs' arrival causing many cheers and jeers. After a few moments after the two summoners and their guardians walk onto the dock a passing man excitedly tells all in hearing distance that Measter Mika's ship has arrived. Yuna, being excited herself, says, "Let's go see him!" So the group follows the crowd to a ship where they see a tall blue haired man walk down the ramp from the ship. Tidus blinks and asks Jaidon quietly, "Who's the guy with the blue hair and tattoos on his chest?" Jaidon ponders the question but before he can reply Measter Mika appears and the crowd cheers. The old Measter smiles at the crowd and motions towards the blue haired guy and says to all, "Please show your respect for the Measter of the Guado." The whole crowd except for Jaidon and Tidus make the prayer catching the Guado Measter's attention. "Why do you not show your respect?" His question has everyone looking at the two and Jaidon replies easily with, "I do not mean disrespect but I am unable to pay proper respect due to my condition of being blind. My eyes see nothing but black no matter where I look." The people all gasp before one of the priests walks to him to ask, "How were you blinded young man?" Jaidon smiles sadly and says, "It was accidently done by my father Ritsu when he was training and I got too close while he trained." The people make sounds of sorrow before Measter Mika himself asks another question, "What is your name young man?" The blind summoner follows the sound of the voice to Measter Mika and replies, "My name is Jaidon Kyuki. I am a summoner on pilgrimage with Lady Yuna for we decided to travel together for our purpose is the same which is to defeat Sin." The Guado Measter looks closely at the boy and something clicks in his memory and he comments, "So you are the son of Lord Ritsu and Lady Amala that sadly passed away recently." There are many painful cries for the mentioned couple and Jaidon nods to confirm the Measter's comment.
Kyota nudges Jaidon's side reminding him that the blitzball tournament still needs to get underway. "Again I do not mean disrespect Measters but shouldn't you be getting to your box to start the tournament." Measter Mika hums in agreement and has the Guado Measter quickly introduce himself. The Guado performs the prayer and turns to the crowd, "Forgive my forgetfulness everyone but I am Seymour Guado and I hope to keep up with my father's goal of a peaceful relationship between the Guado and the rest of Spira." As Seymour speaks Saorta comments to Jaidon through their mental link, 'He is the child of Anima's Fayth Jessica.' Jaidon mentally nods in understanding, 'No wonder I feel such evil within his heart. I hope his thirst for power will not get in the way of Sin's permanent destruction. Now that I think about that do you think I should explain the plan the Fayth have to Yuna?' Saorta makes a negative sound before saying, 'You may want to get as much joy by being with Tidus while you can.' Jaidon not only goes speechless mentally but he suddenly stops walking and Yuna bumps into him. "Jaidon are you alright? You look suddenly heartbroken." Yuna's soft voice knocks Jaidon back into the present and he asks Saorta, 'He's the dream of the Fayth?' Saorta sadly confirms his question and Jaidon reaches out for Kyota. The coeurl sensing her friend's inner pain nuzzles his side. "Yuna has Tidus gone to the locker room with Wakka and the Aurochs?" Yuna makes a sound to confirm his question and Jaidon sighs sadly as Kyota and Yuna both lead the blind summoner into the stands to cheer for the Aurochs. Once he is seated Jaidon buries his face into Kyota's fur to try to hold back his tears. 'I'm sorry Jaidon but you needed to know this.' Saorta's soft apology comforts him a little. 'Is there any way at all that will let him stay?' Saorta replies with, 'It was Bahamut's Fayth that made connection to Tidus so I think it is best to ask him when you get to Bevelle to gain Bahamut.' Jaidon nods his understanding and turns his focus outward and to the game to see the Aurochs first match is against the Al Bhed Psyches.
The match progresses until the Aurochs shock the crowd by actually winning the match five to two. "Wow is all I can say to the conclusion of that match. It would seem this year the Aurochs are seriously trying to win the tournament." One announcer states as the other makes a noise of agreement following it up with, "I think the Aurochs' newest player is the cause for this change in attitude. I swear I have never seen a blitzer that amazing. Sure a few of the other teams have great players but I don't think I have ever seen anyone make five goals in a row." The crowd goes wild as the championship match begins. Yuna cheers loudly as Wakka and Tidus both take turns making a goal and scoring four times before halftime.
During halftime Kyota makes her way to the locker room for the Aurochs and whines to get Tidus' attention. The blonde looks over at his fellow guardian and at seeing her worried look knows something is wrong with Jaidon. "Wakka how much time do I have to check on Jaidon before halftime is over?" The red head guardian turns to look at Kyota as well and motions for the blonde to go, "You have fifteen minutes before we're due back in the sphere." Tidus nods and follows Kyota to Jaidon. The blonde sees his summoner looking really sad and his heart clenches. "Jaidon, are you alright?" His voice brings the blind summoner's attention to him and he sees the held back tears. Jaidon lets his head fall forward to hide his eyes. "I'm fine." Tidus though doesn't believe that at all and he kneels in front of his summoner. "Jaidon, you have Kyota worrying about you. If you need to talk you know I'll listen." The blind summoner chokes on a quiet sob but just nods to let Tidus know he would tell why he is sad at a later date. "Focus on the match." Though Lulu is worried about Jaidon's sudden despair her words cause Tidus to jump up and head back towards the locker room calling out to Kimahri, "Watch over Jaidon for me Kimahri!" The Ronso nods his agreement and shifts his stance to be slightly behind both Yuna and Jaidon.
The match ends with the Besaid Aurochs as the new champions with a score of seven to three. Just as Wakka and Tidus do a high five in the sphere the stadium breaks out in panic as fiends appear from out of nowhere and starts to attack the people in the stands. As Wakka and Tidus take out the fiends in the sphere Lulu, Kyota, and Kimahri keep the fiends away from Yuna and Jaidon. After a few moments Tidus and Wakka make their way into the stands and bump into Auron who slices through a couple of tough fiends like they were nothing but air. "Auron!" Tidus calls out shocked before rushing to the older guardian's side and helping him fight off a fiend. Wakka though shocked that Tidus knows the Sir Auron hurries to help out with fighting off the fiends. After awhile Seymour steps forward and summons the aeon Anima to take out the majority of the fiends. However just as he dismisses his aeon a nasty flying fiend soars into the stadium causing more panic but before he can resummon Anima, Jaidon raises his staff into the air and then slams it into the concrete creating a large circle before shoving it into the center of the circle. He steps back and from the crystal on top of the staff a beam of black light shoots up into the sky blocking out the sunlight temporarily. Once the sun is fully blocked a loud howl is heard by all present and they go silent and look up to see a dark purple fireball falling towards the concrete fast before all of a sudden it vanishes to be replaced by a wolf-like aeon that lands gracefully beside Jaidon. Its height stops at Jaidon's waist and is dark purple with red on its paws and half way up its powerful legs almost looking like stockings. It has horns in the shape of a behemoth's that are black with grey tips. The aeon nuzzles Jaidon's hand before it steps forwards and takes an offensive stance. Again Jaidon calls out to his aeon, "You have free reign Saorta. Do what ever you think is best for this situation."
Everyone watches the aeon as it looks up at the flying fiend and then suddenly charges forward and uses the railing to leap up into the sky. The wolf-like creature actually soars up above the fiend before letting gravity take its course and she falls towards the fiend. As the aeon continues to fall its horns start to glow dark purple and small balls of darkness shoot out before a black bolt of lightning strikes the aeon from the staff still in the ground. With the added power the aeon unleashes its overdrive and two black chains appear from below to trap it into its current place. The aeon vanishes from sight only to reappear under the fiend to let loose a stream of black fire from its jaws but then it vanishes again to reappear back above the fiend to this time send another beam of darkness twice as large as the previous ones. Then the aeon finishes up with diving straight through the fiend ripping out a glimmering image of the fiend that it uses its claws to rip to shreds causing the fiend to be ripped to shreds as well. Once the fiend is gone the aeon once again nuzzles Jaidon's hand before melting into the shadows on the ground dismissing itself to the Farplane. "Jaidon what is Midnight Canis' overdrive?" Jaidon looks towards Yuna's voice and replies, "Shadow Reaper. Canis does as many attacks as necessary until she's able to dive through to rip the shadow from its owner. For fiends its shadow is like its soul and should my enemy be human in nature then Shadow Reaper would literally rip apart that human's soul and be an instant kill no matter if he or she has deathproof armor equipped."
Fours hours later and Tidus looks at Auron with a kicked puppy look. "You mean that my old man was the Final Aeon Yuna's dad used to defeat Sin ten years ago and now my old man has become Sin over that time period?" The older guardian just nods to confirm the question. "He wants me to help stop him." It wasn't a question but Auron still nodded to agree. Tidus sighs and says, "I was going to bring down Sin permanently anyways. Jaidon thinks the Final Aeon isn't the way to bring down Sin anyways so we're going to try to find a way that doesn't involve a summoner or guardian dying unless it's to protect someone before the final battle. Also Wakka and Lulu two of Yuna's guardians think a key to the destruction is machina." Auron blinks in shock at Tidus at the mention of Jaidon and Yuna thinking, 'Is he guarding Ritsu's son or Braska's daughter?' After shaking his head of thought he starts to laugh and says, "Jeckt will be proud that you have already come up with an alternative way." Tidus just snorts but doesn't bother to hide the small smile the thought of making his father proud brings to his lips. "Hey Auron you might have to choose a summoner to be guardian to but whether it's Yuna or Jaidon we'll all be traveling together." The older guardian looks at Tidus closely and smiles with approval. "You are guardian to whom?" Tidus looks over at Auron and says, "I guard Jaidon with Kyota who I believe you will find to be quite unique." Tidus turns back to look out over the ocean, "It really doesn't matter which summoner you guard but I'm hoping you'll choose Jaidon too because I really would like to have my adopted dad fighting by my side again." Auron blinks again before placing a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "I am honored you would look at me in that view Tidus." The blonde blitzer smiles at Auron and the two walk to the meeting spot where the others wait.
When the two arrive they see Yuna trying to get Jaidon to smile but he still seems to be feeling the sadness he felt earlier. Tidus quickly moves to hug Jaidon asking softly, "Is it what you were thinking about earlier today?" The blind summoner nods as he nuzzles Tidus' chest. "Jaidon try to cheer up everyone's worrying about you." Jaidon steps back and sighs, "Sorry everyone I just had a revelation earlier that really made me sad. I hope you all can help me cheer up." Yuna hugs Jaidon herself and says gently, "Everyone feels sad sometimes it's only natural you don't need to apologize for that but I'll do my best to make you smile throughout the pilgrimage." Auron takes in the male summoner's appearance for a moment before clearing his throat to gain everyone's attention. Everyone looks at him except Jaidon who looks down towards the coeurl by his side that is also not looking at him. "Kyota, why have you tensed?" The coeurl's gaze is focused on someone near the monument below them. Auron walks over and looks at the person the fiend is focused on to see the Guado Measter. "It would seem she does not like Measter Seymour." Jaidon sighs and pats Kyota's head before saying, "Focus on the road ahead Kyota not the one behind. Mi'hen Highroad is up ahead and I'll need your senses sharp for ambushing fiends." The coeurl sniffs in the Measter's direction before she looks up at Auron to look him over. The coeurl feels his unearthliness but knows he would only stay for a purpose. Tidus takes Jaidon's hand and places it on Auron's shoulder. "Jaidon this is Auron he is like a second father to me. He raised me after my old man died." Auron raises an eyebrow at Tidus' action before looking down at the silver haired summoner that is Ritsu's son and upon seeing the scars now understands Tidus' action. Jaidon nods his understanding and asks, "I have no doubt you will come but which of us summoners will you guard?" Auron looks around the group seeing that Yuna has three guardians with her and two with Jaidon makes his decision. "I will guard you Jaidon since Ritsu trained me in the way I fight but I will still help protect Yuna as I promised her father Braska that I would keep her safe if she became a summoner." Yuna smiles brightly and links her arms with Jaidon and Lulu. "Well since we have so many warriors keeping us safe I believe us magic users will stay in the middle during any battles." Everyone laughs before making their way up the stairs to the Mi'hen Highroad.