Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy X nor any of their characters, The only thing owned by me is the original event/happening which take place during the plot. If I could own something though it would be a keyblade, seriously they are frickin sweet!

Of Hearts and Pyreflies

It's nighttime on the boat. I'm on deck, near the entrance to the interior of it. I can see Wakka and Lulu in conversation. Wakka looks at Lulu, and nods. They walk to the upper area of the boat where they'll be alone. Near me, the Luca Goers and another person or two surround Yuna and engage in a chat with her; she giggles, while Kimahri keeps a vigilant watch over her. I head down the room with the Aurochs inside. There, the Aurochs are standing around, talking. Tidus is sitting down

Sora: So Tidus… can I talk to you alone for a moment?

Tidus: Sure Sora.

We walk off, and go to the engine room

Sora: So, what do you think of Spira?

Tidus: What do you mean?

Sora: I can tell its you're first time here. Back at Kilika temple, I noticed a homesick expression on your face. You miss Zanarkand a lot don't you?

Tidus: Yea… I mean, everything here is different. The people, the places. I'm used to everything being flashy and exciting! This…this is totally new for me…

Sora: Don't worry. I mean you always have Blitzball.( winking ) Oh and Yuna too!

Tidus: ( Blushing ) What's that supposed to mean?

Sora: Well….in case you haven't notice my friend, she has taken quite a liking to you.

Tidus: ( Excitedly ) You really think so?

Sora: Yea I do. Don't forget what Wakka said though!

At that, I exit the room, leaving Tidus to wade through his feelings. When I come out of the room, I am greeted by a man.

Man: Oy! You over there. Them's fascinatin clothes you're wearin.

Sora: What? Are you talking to me?

He comes closer, as if to observe me. He looks at my outfit, repeatedly going over the details.

Man: No this won't do one bit.

Sora: Huh?

Man: Don't look like you got much money either.

Sora: Who exactly do you think you are?

Man: Oaka XXIII, merchant extraordinaire!

Sora: Never heard of you…

Oaka: Of course not. Not many have…not yet… Can I ask ye a favor? I'm in need of seed money, so I can grow my empire!

Sora: The nerve of some people…

I remove from my pocket 200 gil (that's the name of the currency around here) and hand it to Oaka

Oaka: Thanks be to ye. Fine seed money, for the Oaka merchant empire!

I leave while he is distracted by the money. I come up on deck and overhear a conversation between two men.

Man 1: Hey have you heard about what's happening recently?

Man 2: Oh you mean about the attacks?

My interest has been piqued

Man 1: Yeah, they say some man has been going around, and attempting to take people's hearts!

Man 2: That's terrible! What is he supposed to look like.

Man 1: The only things known about him, are that he wears a black cloak, which conceals his face, and his weapons are some sort of red energy.

My heart stops. This description sounds all too familiar. But how… Riku and I…we took care of Xemnas, back at The World That Never Was. We saw him fade into nothingness. I don't understand how he could still be around. The mere thought, sends chills down my spine. I'll look into the matter more some other time, but for now i won't let it bother me.

Tidus comes up onto the deck. He over hears a the conversation between the Goers, and Yuna. They are bad mouthing the Aurochs.

Tidus: What are you all talking about?

Bickson: Who are you supposed to be?

Graav: Ah, I remember him. Guy from Kilika

Bickson: Hmm?

Graav: You know, one of the Besaid Aurochs. Said somethin' about winning the cup.

Bickson: Oh, right. You're that idiot.

Yuna: Don't call him that!

Bickson: But he is an idiot. They don't got what it takes to win the cup.

Tidus: Well, they do now that I'm here!

Sora: Yea me too! We're gonna show you guys who's boss!

Yuna: Yes, they will win! He used to be the star player of the Zanarkand Abes!

Yuna…you really shouldn't have said anything…

Graav: Yeah, as if anyone lived in those ruins.

Yuna: It's not ruins, there's a big city there! There is!

Oh boy…

Sora: Don't listen, he's got amnesia

Tidus: Yea I got too close to Sin and-

Yuna: There is a city, really!

Couldn't just let him make a save could you…

Bickson: Right. Whatever your Ladyship says.

They walk away. Tidus approaches her

Tidus: What's wrong? You seemed kinda mad back there.

Sora: Oh so you did notice?

Yuna: They were being rude and...I do believe your Zanarkand exists. I really do, you know!

Tidus: Really? How come?

Yuna: Sir Jecht used to always tell me stories. It'd be great to see your home someday. I'd love to go there.

Tidus: Yeah… Tidus drifts into thought, wearing that blank expression I have come to know on his face. Once he snaps out of it he speaks.

Tidus: Hey, Sora, have you seen Wakka and Lulu?

Sora: Yea I saw them go on the upper part of the deck

Tidus and I are about to go up the stairs, when we hear conversation. We decide to eavesdrop on it

Lulu: Well? Say something. You'll take responsibility?

Wakka: Relax! He's bound to know someone in Luca.

Lulu: And if not?

Wakka: He could always join a blitz team. Anyhow, it's better than just leaving him in Besaid!

Lulu: What? Just leaving him in Luca?

Wakka: What do you want me to do?

Lulu: Yuna wants to make him a guardian.

Wakka: Oh yeah, geez... There's that too, eh?

Lulu: And whose fault is that?

Wakka : Not mine!

There's a few moments of silence

Wakka: It is mine, huh? Why do you think she wants to make him a guardian, anyway?

Lulu: Because he's Sir Jecht's

Wakka: Oh, right. Wait, you sure 'bout that? He's really Sir Jecht's son?

Lulu: It's hard to say, but Yuna seems to believe so.

Wakka: Okay.

Lulu: "Okay?" Okay? That's all you have to say?

Wakka: Well, yeah, I mean...He's gotta decide for himself, ya? Well, him and Yuna, I guess.

Lulu: You're right, for once.

Wakka: Ahem!

Another few moments of silence

Lulu: I wonder which is best...Why don't you tell him he should?

Wakka: Should what?

Lulu: Become Yuna's guardian.

Wakka: Why me?

Lulu: Because Yuna can't.

Wakka: Why not?

Lulu: He hates his father-what he was, what he did. Do you really think she can possibly say to him... "I want you to be my guardian, like your father was to mine?"

Wakka: Aren't you being over-sensitive?

She lets out a frustrated sigh

Wakka: All right, all right. I'll try talking to him after the tournament

Lulu: Be discreet.

Wakka: I know. It's his decision…

Wakka: Wait, He doesn't like his father?

Lulu: Apparently. He told Yuna as much.

Wakka: Hating your own father, huh? Sounds like a luxury to me. I don't even remember my parents. Can't say how I feel about 'em.

Lulu: I...I was five then, so I remember mine a little.

Wakka: Dammit! Sin just takes everything away from us.

Tidus and I go to the front of the boat, and approach a blitzball that's just sitting there. Tidus seems to be recalling a memory. He is visibly frustrated by what it is he is recalling. Without warning, Tidus snaps back to reality. He about-faces and kicks the ball towards the pole supporting the ships sail. It bounces back toward him, he returns it to the pole with a quick jab. It impacts the pole again to be shot back one more time. Off this rebound, Tidus leaps in the air, doing multiple 360 degree corkscrew spins, finishing by smacking the ball with a hard kick, sending it flying over the horizon.

Surprise coats Tidus' face, he is visibly elated

Tidus: The best? Yeah right!

Sora: Wow…

I turn around and see all of the aurochs behind us

Sora: WHOA how did you guys get here?

Wakka: Whoa! What's that called?

Tidus: Doesn't have a name. Anyone can do it if they try.

Wakka: Show us one more time, ya?

Tidus prepares to do it again. The Aurochs step aside. Tidus looks back to see Yuna's there; she waves at him. He kicks the ball and performs the shot once more. The Aurochs are running to the front of the boat, to view the ball flying across the horizon. Tidus goes to speak to Yuna. I follow behind, but notice the aurochs attempting the shot.

Yuna: That was the Jecht Shot, wasn't it?

Tidus: How do you know that?

Yuna: Sir Jecht showed it to me when I was a child. He called it the "Sublimely Magnificent Jecht Shot Mark III."

Tidus: Stupid name, huh? You know what? There is no Mark I or Mark II, you know? My old man said the name Mark III was just something to hook the crowd. He said they'd come back every night expecting to see Mark I and Mark II. And, they really did come back. I used to get so mad. Is he alive, you think?

Yuna: I don't know. But, Sir Jecht was my father's guardian.

Tidus: So he's famous here, too?

Yuna: Yes. So if anything happened to him, I should think word would get around

Tidus: Uh-huh.

Yuna: What would you do if you found him?

Tidus: Who knows? I thought he died ten years ago. Well… I'd probably just smack him one.

He punches the air

Tidus: After everything he put Mom and me through. And because he was famous, I was always... Well, you should know, Yuna. Your father's famous, too. Everyone in Spira knows him, right? Ain't it tough?

Yuna: It is hard to follow in his footsteps as a summoner.

Tidus: Sure.

Yuna: But the honor of having a father like him surpasses all that, I think.

Tidus: Well, there wasn't much to honor about my old man, that's for sure.

He really does hate his father

Yuna: You shouldn't say that about your father!

Tidus: I got the right!

Yuna: I guess you do.

Tidus gets hit by a blitzball. We turn to see Wakka and the Aurochs

Wakka: Show me that move again!

Tidus performed the shot one more time. This time he let me have a try. I almost got it too. I messed up on the spins at the end, and kicked more air than ball.

Tidus: Wow Sora. No too shabby for a first try.

Sora: You really think so?

Tidus: ( winking ) Might make a good star player someday

Sora: Hey Wakka, you think I could play in the tournament too?

Wakka: Hey, the more the merrier ya? We would be glad to have you on da team!

With this I realized just how tired I was

Wakka: You two should get some rest, you gonna need it for tomorrow's matches

Tidus and I descended into the ship. We found our room, and wished each other goodnight. Then…I had a dream.

Voice: Its nice to see you… Sora…

All I could see was utter blackness. Amidst the darkness, a cloaked figure, face hidden from my view. Only two features could be seen. The long strand of silvery white hair, and two beams, a crimson red, extended from the figures hands.

Voice: So… Would you like to bring me, some ever precious hearts?

To Be Continued.

Author's Note

Hi guys. Thanks to the few reviews I go, my interest in writing this story has been sparked once again. I would appreciate more reviews so keep them coming. I want to know what you guys wanna see in the story. Any genuinely good suggestions will be made canon.