Chapter 4
The Next Sin
We began to travel on a few minutes after Rave made his appearance. Blood had a goofy smile on his face as he threw his pack, which held the tent and any supplies, over his shoulder. Rave was enjoying being perched atop my shoulder, cautiously pressing his beak to my ear to see my reaction. Blood always claimed he was a smart bird, and could read emotions.
Could he read the pain and sorrow I held within my heart? Ever since my overreaction to Blood's good natured words, I couldn't stop thinking about my guardians. Mostly, I couldn't stop thinking about Tidus. Blood seemed to be able to tell I was hurting, because the only thing he said to me as I thought was 'Just tell me if you need to stop'.
I guess he didn't expect the level of endurance Sir Auron had forced upon me, and all the other guardians. Many times, we got from one temple to another in less than a week. Every time I'd ask him about it, Sir Auron would just chuckle and tell me that's how he travelled with my father.
But the cold arctic wind of Mt. Gagazet seemed to be drying the inside of my lungs. My breath came in shudders, not only from the icy feeling inside me, but because I was shivering. Blood, who was traveling in front of me with his sword in hand, heard my awkward breathing and slowed his pace until we were walking stride for stride.
"Here," He murmured as he reached into his pack and pulled out a small blanket, which he wrapped around my shoulders. It was the perfect height for the job, because the blanket ended around my ankles. I smiled warmly.
"Thank you," I replied, the shivering already starting to die down a little. This blanket was thick, and felt like it was made from deer hide or something closely resembling it. It was all I needed to keep the arctic winds from reaching the bare skin of my arms. Finally, I decided the silence between us had worn on long enough.
"Did you just happen to be at the Palace of St. Bevelle when you learned I had been marked a traitor, or have you been following me for a while now?" I joked lightly. Blood let a gentle smile pass his lips, but said nothing, apparently thinking of his response. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped and looked around. Rave, who had been quite peaceful and still on my shoulder, puffed out his feathers defensively and leapt from my shoulder quickly rising until he was out of sight.
"Don't say anything," Blood whispered, grasping my arm protectively and leading me closer to the side of the mountain. Then, gripping his sword tightly, he peered around the corner. Almost immediately, he withdrew his head, shifting his sword around in his hand to get a more comfortable grip.
"And who do we have here?" That voice, so soft and misleading, was familiar. I heard the snow crunching beneath the person's feet, and from around the corner, Maester Seymour appeared.
"Maester Seymour," I whispered, holding his gaze in my own. He smiled slightly, holding both arms out from his sides.
"Well if it isn't Lady Yuna," He murmured with a smirk. "It's odd not to see your guardians standing in front of you." Maester Seymour then turned to look at Blood, with one eyebrow raised inquisitively. "And who is this? I've never seen him around you before."
"The name's Blood." Blood growled. He must have taken what I said about Maester Seymour framing us to heart, because the anger seemed to roll off his body. Maester Seymour only smiled a little more. That same smile that lead me to believe he was nothing more than a Maester who was looking for a way to make the people of Spira smile by marrying me. Not to use me like nothing more than another pawn in his game.
"Well Blood, it is very nice to meet you." He said gently. Blood only snorted in response. Good for him. He knew better than to trust him. "But I must ask you why you are escorting Lady Yuna. Haven't you heard? She's a traitor to Yevon, and doesn't keep to her word. Had she just married me like she promised…" But Blood cut him off.
"Oh get over yourself," Blood spat. "And I am escorting Lady Yuna because she was separated from her guardians. It is the right thing to do. She is a Summoner, no?" The sincerity in his voice was deeply feigned, but Maester Seymour seemed to buy it.
"She was," He whispered. "Until she betrayed Yevon and killed Maester Kinoc."
"You and I both know that's a lie." I growled, tightening my grip on my staff. All I need to do is send him, I thought to myself silently, and I'll never be bothered by him again. If I send him, he will not attempt to become the next Sin and kill all of Spira.
"Think not of sending me," Maester Seymour said with a smirk, holding his hand out in front of him towards me, as if to grab my staff. "I do not wish to have to kill your new little friend, just like I killed all the Ronsos who tried to block my path." I let out a gasp and covered my mouth. "One after another." He finished, with a deeper smirk.
"No," I whispered. First Kimahri, now all the Ronsos?
"Spira is caught in an unending spiral of death, Yuna. If I were to become the next Sin after you defeat Jecht, I could end the suffering." Did he truly mean Sir Jecht, the other guardian that aided my father so many years ago? I was at a loss of words, so Blood took my place.
"Sir Jecht could not possibly be Sin! He was the guardian to High Summoner Braska! It simply can not be true." He spat so darkly, I almost wanted to shiver again.
"Just ask Jecht's son, Lady Yuna." Maester Seymour muttered, before stepping closer to me. "So now I ask of you, Lady Yuna, help me to become the next Sin." I stepped back with a shake of my head. Just as Tidus would have done, Blood got in front of me. Maester Seymour let out a slow chuckle, then stepped back. A battle soon started, with Seymour once again connected to another creature.
"Can't this guy do any battling for himself anymore?" Blood asked with an eyebrow risen, smirking, before he prepared for the fight.
It was only a matter of minutes before Blood was slipping. And even as I healed him, he didn't seem to be benefitting from it as much as the others would. I had no other choice. I had to send Maester Seymour before he killed Blood.
Expertly, I stepped forward, swinging my staff around me as the Fayth had taught me weeks ago. At first, Maester Seymour was too caught in the battle to notice what I was doing, but as he began to fade, he turned his attention away from Blood and turned towards me.
"Lady Yuna!" He cried, his body slowly disappearing. He knew it was too late to stop me now. But even under the circumstances, an undying smile remained on his lips. The same smile I saw when I first met him at Mi'hen. "Just ask Jecht's son what Sir Auron told him about Sin." He said, until he vanished completely.
Blood was holding his side as he took in deep breaths. Although I was mortally shocked by what Maester Seymour said, I had to tend to Blood's wounds before I even reflected on it. With a heavy sigh, I turned my attention and white magic towards Blood, who placed his sword upright in the snow to use for support. Though he was weak and tired, he looked up at me with a warm smile, which I returned gratefully.
"Thanks…" I said slowly, after he was completely healed. "Thanks for fighting for me… This is the third and final time I've encountered Seymour and battle, but never have I done it alone before." Even though Blood was fully healed now, he did not stand up. In fact, he flopped down in the snow with an exhausted sigh, and I took a seat next to him.
There was a brief moment of silence between us. Blood never responded to my thank you. I sort of guessed he knew I was thankful…
But then he lifted his gloved hands from the snow and took mine between them. Then, he shifted both of my hands into his left hand, and brushed my cheek with his right.
"No problem," He whispered softly. "It's my job." Then, he leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Pulling away almost instantly after contact was made, he smiled, and wordlessly began to set up the tent. I didn't even move. I was too shocked by all that had happened in the past five minutes. I finally sent Seymour, and now…
Why was one simple action on Blood's behalf so heartbreaking to me? I feel like I am split in two. One side of me longs for Tidus, while the other side of me is glad to have Blood now. Slowly, I lifted my hand to where Blood kissed my cheek, as if his lips were still there. What was I going to do? What was I going to say if he ever brought it up?
Part of me wished I had married Seymour by now. I wouldn't be in this mess if I had.
xxx
Well, it turns out we weren't going forward like Auron said we were. A traveler that passed us by told us he had seen you with someone else, traveling at your own leisure. So Auron's suspicions were incorrect. I had a feeling. I mean, Zanarkand is right around the corner, and I didn't think you'd go without your guardians.
Without me. I was the one who came from Zanarkand, you know? I could probably show you around, to the best of my abilities, at least. It's been so long since I've been back home, where I came from. But then again…
Spira seems like home now. Even if I was able to go back, I don't think I could leave you and everyone else behind. This place has kind of… grown on me, I guess. And I don't think a day would go by that I didn't think about you if I did end up going home. I guess what I mean to say is…
I love you. There's no denying it now. But are you okay, wherever you are? This guy the traveler was talking about, is he treating you right? Don't fall in love with him, Yuna. I don't think I can afford to see you go with someone else. It would just kill me.
xxx
A/N-
1-I am so tired right now. I stayed up late to finish this chapter, and it never seemed to end. If I had a little more energy, I'd work a little more on it.
2- Can someone please review, and save everyone else the troubles of listening to me beg? I feel like no one likes it or something.
xoxo
Midnight
