Thanks for the reviews and the understanding guys. Much appreciated. Here's chapter seven, enjoy.
The celebrations were not quite like the parties Tidus was used to back in Zanarkand. The after match celebrations in Zanarkand could go on all night eventually spilling out into the streets and including the entire cities population. The party in the centre of the small village, where the summoner had earlier done her first summoning, was basically a small gathering of villagers chatting around a large bonfire with a few drinks. Tidus was not surprised to find they were non-alcoholic.
Wakka took the opportunity to introduce Tidus to the rest of the Besaid Aurochs.
"This is Jassu and Botta, they're our defence," Wakka said, "And this here is Datto and Letty, Letty is our centre. And lastly Keepa, he best goalkeeper in Spira, ya?"
Keepa gave a smirk, "In Besaid at least," he corrected.
The other Aurochs chuckled and Wakka continued, "This is Tidus, he wanted into the Tournament so bad, I let him the team," he lied blatantly. Tidus opened his mouth to object but Wakka stood on foot meaningfully. The blonde blitzer shut his mouth and managed not to wince. The captain was clearly embarrassed about appealing to an outsider to help his team win.
"Go on, say hi," Wakka shoved him forward.
"Er, hi guys," Tidus said hesitantly.
The Aurochs nodded in greeting.
"So," Tidus tried again, "What's our goal?"
"To do our best!" the Aurochs chorused quite forcefully.
Tidus frowned and looked at Wakka who shook his head.
"Nope," the captain contradicted his players, "We got a new goal now. Our new goal...is victory! To win every match, to beat every apposing team. To bring the Crystal Cup back to our island. That's all we need to do to win! Easy, ya?"
The aurochs looked at one another muttering "Victory?" a few times. They seemed to like the idea because within seconds they were chanted their new goal in unison, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"
Tidus gave a half smile and glanced across the fire to where the summoner was talking to some people. She looked over and noticed his scrutiny; she gave him a smile before turning back. Tidus' half smile matured to a full one.
"Really got the boys worked up, ya?" Wakka said jokingly before joining his players for a drink. Tidus took the opportunity to walk around the fire toward the Summoner's group but before he could approach them a little girl standing next to the summoner turned and glared at him, "You're a bad man!" she said loudly at him.
Another of the people also looked at him, an elderly woman, "Stay away from the summoner," she said harshly.
Tidus stopped, taken aback. The summoner turned and noticed his approach but before he could turn away she smiled and walked toward him.
"Lady Yuna," an old man called, "Be careful."
The summoner paused, "But it was really my fault to begin with," she said to him before approaching Tidus who looked uncomfortable.
"I'm Yuna," she told him.
"Tidus," the blitzer said still a little uncertain.
"I know," Yuna said with a smile, "Thank you so much for your help earlier."
Tidus was surprised, "I'm sorry about that," he said, "Wasn't that...wasn't I not supposed to...guess I kind of overreacted."
Yuna shook her head, "No I was overconfident," she replied.
There was an uncomfortable pause then Tidus said, "I saw that Aeon thing, that's amazing!"
"Really?" Yuna seemed immensely cheered by this prospect, "Do you think I can become high summoner?"
Tidus wasn't sure what the difference between a regular summoner and high summoner was but he assumed it was good. He nodded. Just then the little girl who had called him a 'bad man' ran up to Yuna.
"Lady Yuna, come play with me some more," she pleaded. Yuna smiled and nodded, the girl ran off just as suddenly as she had arrived.
The young summoner turned her attention back to Tidus, "So, tomorrow then," she said.
Tidus frowned; "Tomorrow?" he wanted to know.
"We're going on the same boat aren't we?" she said.
"Oh, really?" he said enthusiastically.
Yuna started to walk away then paused, "We can talk more, you can tell me all about Zanarkand."
Watching her retreating back the summoner's words finally reached his brain. How did she know about Zanarkand? Was she mocking him? Before he could mull over it too much Wakka stepped up next to him and nudged him with an elbow.
"She's cute, ya?" he said teasingly.
"Yeah," Tidus replied cautiously but with a smile he couldn't have stopped for the world.
"Don't get no ideas," Wakka said his demeanour suddenly sobering.
Tidus bristled at this, "No promises there, big guy," he shot back slightly contemptuously, "Hey, but what if she like comes on to me?" he added challengingly
Wakka shook his head, "Not gonna happen," he said with certainty and Tidus wondered for a moment what made him so sure. His tone suggested quite firmly it was not open for discussion, so the blitzer let it drop.
"Let me know if you get tired, I had a bed made up for you," Wakka said, his cheerfulness returning as quickly as it had left.
Tidus lay on the bed in the crusader's lodge that had been assigned to him for the night. His thoughts kept him awake even as he could hear the soft breathing of rooms other occupants, clearly asleep. Turning over for the umpteenth time he found his thoughts wandering to Yuna. He wondered what Wakka had meant about not getting any ideas. They had just talked after all.
And they would talk more tomorrow, Tidus was looking forward to it. He wondered where exactly they were going. Obviously on the young summoner's pilgrimage, which Wakka had told him about, but where exactly? His thoughts turned briefly to Auron as he wondered if he would meet the older man in the next place he visited.
Visited? He thought wryly. More like flung into.
He must have fallen asleep then because it was the last thought he could recall thinking when he woke up.
Tidus stands up and finds he is standing on a jetty over looking a clear blue sea. Further down the jetty stands a young woman. As he approaches she turns, it is Yuna.
"Where's that boat?" Tidus wonders sounding worried without knowing why.
"Everyone will find us if it doesn't come soon," Yuna says matter-of-factly.
"You really sure this is okay?" Tidus asks.
"Would you take me to Zanarkand?" she asks in reply.
"Hey!" calls a voice, "You said you'd go with me." Rikku runs up the jetty.
Tidus does not think this is strange but gets the feeling he should, "Oh, um...er," he starts to say.
"I thought Wakka told you not to get any ideas," Rikku scolds him.
"He did?" Yuna questions.
"Uh," Tidus feels panicky for a moment.
"Hey! Stop dreaming," yells a third voice.
Tidus spins around, behind him is his father. They are now standing on a beach.
Anger, sadness, regret, resentment.
"You with a woman? You can't even catch a ball," Jecht taunts.
Tidus is a child again. He sits down and begins to cry.
"Oh, what's the matter," Jecht says, "Gonna cry again? Cry, cry. That's the only thing you're good for."
"I hate you," Young Tidus whispers.
"Heh?" Jecht doesn't hear him, "What'd you say?".
Yuna and Rikku stand on either side of Jecht.
"You have to speak loudly," Yuna tells him gently.
"I hate you!" Tidus yells.
"Eh?" Jecht is confused.
"That's the spirit!" Yuna tells him.
"You can do it!" Rikku cheers.
Tidus awoke with a start and sat up in bed with a shout, "I hate you!" he yelled at the dark. Breathing heavily he looked around in confusion then realizing where he was, he checked to see if he had woken anyone up. One or two crusaders rolled over or grunted but no one was awake.
Tidus rubbed his face tiredly and was about to lie back down when he realized he could hear voices outside. It sounded like Wakka and someone else, a woman.
"He's dead, okay! Dead!" he heard her say forcefully. Slipping out of bed he crept barefooted to the doorway, which was covered by a curtain. Pushing it aside slightly he peeked out.
Standing next to the dwindling bonfire were Wakka and the black clad guardian. They seemed to be arguing.
"He does look a lot like Chappu. I was surprised too when I first saw him but no matter what he looks like he isn't Chappu. You shouldn't have brought him here in the first place," she was saying. Tidus frowned as he realized they were discussing him.
"Yeah, but Lulu he needed our help," Wakka started.
"Excuses again?" the guardian named Lulu demanded.
"Yeah, but..." Wakka started half-heartedly.
"That's it," Lulu cut him off her voice laced with emotion, "No more! Enough Wakka!"
Lulu turned and stalked off leaving Wakka standing alone in the firelight. The captain sighed and rubbed his head, then walked toward the crusader's lodge. Tidus backed away from the doorway but didn't return to his bed. He wanted to talk to Wakka about what he had heard.
When Wakka entered the tent and saw him guilt flashed briefly across his face.
"Scary," Tidus observed dryly, "So who's Chappu?" he added conversationally.
Wakka let his shoulders drop wearily, "My little brother," he replied, "He looked like you."
"He's dead?" Tidus asked quietly.
Wakka nodded and sat down at the wooden table near the entrance to the Crusader's Lodge.
"He was with the crusaders when they fought Sin last year," Wakka explained, "He didn't make it. I first heard on the day of the tournament."
"So that's why..." Tidus trailed off suddenly regretting his blunt remark about Wakka making excuses.
"I became a guardian to fight Sin, ya?" Wakka started.
"Revenge then?" Tidus cut in.
"That was the idea," Wakka agreed, "Now I'm more worried about a stupid game than avenging my brother. Well after next tournament I'll be a guardian fulltime. I know it kinda looks like I'm using you," Wakka ducked his head, "But I'm not."
Tidus shook his head, "Don't worry, I mean...I owe you a lot. You really helped me out you know," he said, "What I mean is...thanks, Wakka." The blitzer stuck out his hand toward the orange haired Blitzer meaning to shake his hand.
Wakka looked at him for a moment then went to shake his hand but at the last moment he pulled away and ducked his head again, "Stop, you're embarrassing me," he said.
Tidus laughed and stood, "Better get back to bed," he said heading for the back room.
"What you doing up anyways?" Wakka wanted to know.
Tidus hesitated, "Bad dream," he answered truthfully after a moment.
Wakka nodded understandingly, "Sin's toxin can do that," he said.
Tidus sighed.
Tidus woke up and decided that this was without doubt the best awakening he had had since arriving in Spira. The remainder of the night he had slept a deep dreamless sleep that had left him feeling refresh. Dressing hurriedly, as he realized was the only one still in the lodge, he walked through the front door a few seconds later and stood blinking in the bright sunshine for a moment. A short distance away stood Lulu and Wakka.
As he walked toward them, the older blitzer turned and greeted him, "Yo, sleepy head," he said with a grin, "Got something I want to give you." From behind his back he produced a sword, which appeared at first glance to be made of glass, but the translucent blue sword was made out a substance that Tidus had no familiarity with. The hilt was wrapped in soft red leather. It shone in the morning sun.
Tidus took it with care, "You're giving this to me?" he questioned. He raised the sword and gave it a practised swing.
"Yeah," Wakka looked satisfied, "Use it well."
"That's the sword you gave Chappu," Lulu commented lightly.
Tidus looked at her abruptly and couldn't help butsee the tightening around her mouth. Wakka didn't seem to notice.
"Well he never used it," he replied by way of explanation.
Tidus sheathed the sword in the scabbard Wakka handed him then strapped it onto his back.
"Where's Yuna?" Wakka asked Lulu.
Tidus looked up at this, "We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right?" he wanted to know, "Why we gotta wait here?"
"Yuna came to this village ten years ago when the last calm started," Wakka started.
"Calm?" Tidus wondered out loud but no one seemed to hear him.
"Since then," Wakka continued, "She's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent she became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner."
"This is our journey," Lulu told him, "We should leave together." Abruptly she looked toward the temple, following her gaze Tidus spotted Yuna by the stairs trying to pick up a huge suitcase.
"You really don't need all that luggage," Lulu called to her. Yuna looked around guiltily and straightened up.
"They're not really my things," she explained, "They're gifts for the temples we're to visit."
"This isn't a vacation Yuna," Wakka told her gently.
Yuna gave a slight frown, "I guess...I guess you're right," she conceded. Abandoning the large suitcase, she walked down toward them.
As she approached Wakka grinned, "Okay off we go!" he said.
The four of them walked toward the entrance to the small village but as they left Yuna turned and gazed at the church, then did the prayer gesture before following her guardians and Tidus up the hill.
At the top of the hill where Wakka had shown the blonde blitzer his first view of Besaid Village the group stopped and Yuna stood for a long moment on the edge of the cliff gazing down at her home. Tidus thought she seemed a bit too upset about leaving. I mean, it's not like she'll never see the village again, he thought.
"Let's get going man," he said to Wakka.
"We're gonna wait," Wakka sounded rarely subdued almost, as if he too were experiencing extreme sadness. Tidus frowned, feeling not for the first time that he was missing something.
Yuna turned then and walked toward them, she paused next to Wakka who asked, "Are you ready?"
The summoner nodded and walked on, Lulu followed her closely giving Wakka a nod as she passed. The blitzball captain returned the nod. Tidus was even more baffled than before.
Maybe it's a guardian thing, he thought peevishly.
He followed the group at a slight distance and was surprised when they stopped for a second time atop the hill. This time they stopped before some stone ruins. The two guardians and the summoner knelt and prayed in silence. Tidus did not join them, more out of confusion than defiance.
When they stood again Wakka explained, "It's an ancient custom. People leaving the island pray here for a safe trip," he paused then added, "Chappu didn't pray that day, said he'd miss his boat."
Tidus kept silent, opting to keep his opinion regarding pray and customs to himself.
They took the same route to the beach that Wakka and Tidus had used when the blonde blitzer had first come to the village. Tidus remembered seeing a jetty at the end of the beach and was reminded of his dream the previous night. Being lost in thought he trailed a short distance behind the others and almost didn't notice when they disappeared around a bend in the path.
He was about to break into a jog to catch up when something large landed heavily in front of him, causing him to leap back in surprise. Crouched on the path in front of him was the blue cat like guardian from the previous day in the temple. In one clawed hand he held a long spear and his eyes regarded Tidus furiously.
The blonde blitzer frowned and was about to ask what was going on when the guardian literally pounced. Leaping up into the air he came down hard, swinging his spear to come down point first. Caught unawares Tidus barely managed to roll out of the way. As he came up he instinctively drew the sword on his back but wondered whether he dare use it against the guardian who was clearly a friend or at least ally of Yuna.
Spinning to face the cat like man again Tidus was surprised to find the guardian regarding him instead of attacking immediately. He wore a calculating expression and Tidus realized he was being tested. The blonde blitzer grinned but his mirth quickly fled as the guardian attacked again. Lunging forward the guardian lashed out in a stabbing motion, which again Tidus had to fight to avoid. He wondered as he spun out of the way if the cat like man was using his full skill and strength. He some how doubted it and brought his sword around in a slashing motion.
The guardian looked surprised that Tidus would attack him but, instead of hitting him, the blitzer turned the angle of his slice downward into the wooden haft of his opponents spear. The blue sword stood up to its appearance a cut through the thick wood beautifully. The cat like man growled in surprise and leapt back, Tidus followed suit backing off in case he had made the guardian really mad.
Holding the two halves of his weapon in each hand the blue guardian raised an eyebrow.
"That's enough!"
Turning, Tidus saw Wakka standing behind him with his arms folded. Yuna and Lulu flanked him but, despite the sternness of Wakka's voice, both women had amused expressions on their faces. Even the blitzball coach's eyes twinkled with suppressed mirth. Kimahri tossed aside his broken spear and strode forward, passing Tidus without a second glance he walking down the path and out of sight.
Tidus sheathed his sword and crossed his arms, "What's with that guy?" he wanted to know.
"Kimahri Ronso," Lulu said walking forward, "Of the Ronso tribe. He has learned the fiends' way of fighting."
Tidus narrowed his eyes briefly, "That's not what I meant," he said.
"He's another of Yuna's guardians," Wakka told him.
Tidus shook his head in confusion and Yuna giggled, "Sometimes we don't understand him either," she said, "Kimahri doesn't talk much anyway. But he has protected me since I was a child."
Tidus nodded in understanding. No wonder the Ronso guardian was so protective of the young summoner, he had been testing Tidus to see whether he could trust him or not. The blitzer wondered if he had passed.
The rest of the journey down the hill to the beach passed without incident and upon reaching the dock Tidus saw Kimahri was already aboard the ship that would take them to their next destination. On the jetty itself, which reminded Tidus a whole lot of the one he'd dreamed about, were a group of people from the village there to wish the summoner farewell. To Tidus' surprise most of them were crying. It struck him as odd that the people and Yuna herself were acting as if she was leaving never to return. As far as he knew people returned from pilgrimages if only so that they could repeat the journey at a later time.
As he watched Yuna waved to the people on the dock then did the prayer gesture. Her face mirrored her feelings of regret and sadness but also determination. As the boat eventually pulled away from the dock the people ashore clustered at the end of the jetty waving frantically until they were out of sight.
Thanks for reading :)
