Disclaimer: Cynyr and other characters plus the creatures and what not are mine. Square owns everything else.
In this chapter: Time is growing short for Cynyr, Auron reveals a bit about himself, and Cynyr isn't the only one with secrets...
Suspicion and Secrets
As we walked towards the Farplane I decided to stick close to Wakka, who happened to be in front of me. The ground was uneven and it became difficult for me to walk without stumbling while trying to keep up with the others.
It was deathly silent on our way there. Everyone was in their own thoughts. We were all trying to imagine Yuna and Seymour getting married. What I saw in my mind's eye was an unhappy life for Yuna as she became more of a slave and a sex toy for Seymour. I shuddered at the thought and quickly pushed it out of my mind.
When we reached our destination we turned to hear Tidus running up from behind us.
"Question!" He called out.
What a surprise.
"About this Farplane...It's a place where dead people go, right? And that's the Farplane we're going in, right?" He paused and seemed to be thinking. "Wait. Do dead people live there or something?"I heard Lulu give an exasperated sigh and Wakka quickly began to speak.
"You'll see when we get there." Then, everyone began to turn, and from the sound of their footsteps I guessed they were walking up a flight of stairs. I stayed back for a couple of seconds, trying to decide on where the stairs were.
Suddenly, I heard Tidus from behind me and I quickly grabbed his arm before he could walk past me and leave me.
"Wait." He stopped and turned to me.
"Huh?"
"You gotta help me. I can't- I-"
"Oh, yeah. You're blind." There was a couple seconds of silence
"Yes…Tidus."
"Sorry." He said quickly before taking hold of my arm and we started for the stairs. At first, it was slow going because the stairs were so uneven and steep, but then half way up I began walking a little faster.
"Are you really from Zanarkand?" I asked suddenly. This surprised me as much as it did Tidus. I wanted to break the silence between us but I hadn't expected myself to ask such a personal question.
Tidus was silent for several seconds and I quickly apologized.
"I wasn't trying to be nosy."
"Nah…it's just…" he paused a moment, "no one believes me." I slowly shrugged.
"I can't say that I believe you…but I do feel as though there is some truth behind it." Tidus sighed.
"Well, thanks. I guess." I gave him an odd look.
"Wakka and Lulu don't believe me- Yuna, she does though."
"Then what are you complaining about?" I asked with a bit of a smile.
"What do you mean?" Tidus asked.
"You have someone who believes you. Isn't that enough?" Tidus was silent and I decided to speak again.
"If I might ask…why does Yuna believe you?"
"Um…she knew my dad."
"Jecht, right?"
"Yeah…he was her father's guardian ten years ago."
"And your father was from Zanarkand to?" I asked slowly.
"Yeah." Then, there was another awkward silence and I felt the need to change the subject. Before I could speak,though, Tidus actually beat me to it.
"Do you really not know your biological parents?"
"Nope."
"How young were you?"
I took a moment to think. "I guess I was about one."
"Who found you? The Al Bhed?"
Geez, this kid sure knows how to ask questions! They're practically flying out of his mouth!
"No…someone else found me. I stayed with them and their family…but then they took me to the Al Bhed." I explained nervously.
He asks too many questions. Especially now about my past. This can't be good.
"Why'd they do that?" Tidus suddenly asked.
"Um…what do you mean?" I lied.
"I mean, why did they let you live with them and then send you off the to the Al Bhed?"
I bit my lip nervously as I searched my mind for a good reason. They must not know. Ida's warned. It was the first time she had spoken to me sense the accident, so it took me a little by surprise. But what should I say?
"Cynyr? Tidus was still waiting for an answer and I opened my mouth to speak.
"Hey, you two!" A voice called from the top of the stairs. I quietly sighed with relief when I heard Rikku's voice and quickened my steps. Thank you Rikku!
When we reached the landing and Tidus let go of my arm before walking away from me. Good. Maybe he's forgotten our conversation.
"Hey, aren't you guys going up?" Tidus asked, referring to Rikku and apparently someone else.
"I don't belong there." Auron's deep voice said from near by. I turned in that direction and Tidus walked over to him. You don't belong there? That makes no sense Auron! Is that the only excuse you could think of!
"Oh, you're scared!" Tidus exclaimed, causing Auron to sigh.
"I have no intention of searching the past. You three had best be going." Tidus finally gave up and I heard him turn to me, but I didn't move. You mustn't go up. Ida commanded before I could speak.
"Oh, come on!" Tidus exclaimed. He must have seen the look on my face. "You guys aren't coming either?" I shrugged and before I could speak, Rikku did so first.
"I keep my memoried inside. Memories are nice, but that's all they are." I could feel Tidus looking at me now, waiting for my explanation. I bit my lip and shrugged.
"I have no desire to go." I don't think I could stand seeing Hina up there anyway. Tidus suddenly sighed and finally turned.
"Well, okay." He muttered before walking up another set of stairs. Meanwhile, Rikku walked off somewhere on the landing while I just stood there like a lost puppy. "You must not go up."
What did she mean by that? Why not? If I had followed the others would I find myself back inside the Farplane with the Fayth? I mentally shook my head as I found this impossible. I would have to jump off the edge. But then…why couldn't I go?
Slowly, I began to walk forwards, hoping I might find the stairs so that I could sit down. When I thought I was close enough I crouched down and used my hands to feel in front of me.
This is gonna look sooooo stupid if I'm no where near the stairs! Luckily, I did find the stairs and sat down on the first step with a quiet sigh of relief to myself.
"It's really quiet." Rikku mussed. Auron and I didn't say anything and I thought that's what she was hoping for. What do you want us to say? "Um, yes Rikku it is!" I sighed softly to myself and laid my arms across my knees as I drew them up to my chest.
"I think it's too quiet." Rikku continued slowly.
What is she getting at?
"I know!" She exclaimed as she jumped up with enthusiasm.
"We can sing to pass the time away! You know, like…silly songs!" Personally, I couldn't see Auron singing, much less a silly song. I don't think I even want to hear him sing.
"You can." I finally replied to Rikku, and she seemed crestfallen.
"Aw, come on Cynyr. I thought that maybe even you might want to do this with me!" She stood closer to me and I was glad I didn't have to meet her pleading gaze. I shrugged.
"I don't sing."
Auron immediately snorted at this and I made sure, after Rikku had turned away, to give him a death glare.
"Well, I'm singing!" Rikku announced loudly. She cleared her throat and started singing something in Al Bhed. It sounded silly. That wasn't the worst of it though. Not only was she singning loudly in a high pitched tone, but her voice sounded like a choking Chocobo! I tried to keep a straight face.
"Ev ymm dra nyeh tnubc fana masuh tnubc yht kis tnub ur fryd y nyeh dryd fuimt pa!" I knew I was making some sort of face because she suddenly stopped and looked over at me.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Liar!" I remained silent and she sighed.
"Well, if you think I sing bad lets see what you can do!"
I saw this coming.
"I don't sing." I repeated as I turned my head up in her direction. She sighed again.
"I bet you really can and you just don't want to share." I made a face while Auron chuckled with amusement. I furrowed my brows.
"That's not true. Now, leave me alone."
"Okay, okay," Rikku sighed as she turned away, "everyone has their secrets and reasons." She muttered this just as she was walking away and I got up from where I had been sitting.
I walked past Auron and almost walked into a large rail that I didn't know was there. I placed my hands on top of them then frowned.
"Where are we exactly?" I asked.
"On a staircase." Auron remarked, his tone inquiring that I was stupid and I turned to him sharply.
"That's not what I meant."
"Then specify."
"This staircase…how is it that it leads up to the Farplane? That is…where is the staircase?" I asked slowly.
"It's suspended in the air!" Rikku exclaimed from behind me. I spun around and clutched the rail behind me with wide eyes.
"S-suspended?" I squeaked, then, quickly cleared my throat.
"Huh. Don't tell me you're afraid of hieghts." Auron remarked from his place on the stairs. I licked my lips and bit my bottom lip nervously. Not exactly…
"I didn't know you were afraid of hieghts!" Rikku exclaimed.
"I-" I began but stopped. I suddenly felt that same stirring feeling that I had felt before in the pit of my stomach, but now it felt as though it were in my chest. Time is becoming short. I heard Ida whisper.
"Hey, are you okay?" Rikku asked worridly and I realized I had spaced out.
"Huh?"
"You should probably sit down." Auron advised. When I didn't move or say anything I gasped when I felt Auron grab hold of my arm and pull me down. I sat down hard next to him and turned my head towards him in surprise.
"Hey! I could have done that myself."
He didn't reply. He only let go of my arm and I sat there holding it as the skin burned where he had gripped me. Geez! He didn't have to be so rough.
I heard Rikku sigh and I turned my head away from Auron as I began to go through my head again. That feeling…I felt it before. Back in the Manor. I didn't realize the signs would come so soon. I heard Auron shift next to me, his boots scraping the ground and his clothing rustling as he moved.
Could it really be time already?
Suddenly, I felt Auron's hand on top of mine and I turned my head quickly in his direction. He lifted my hand I immediately gave him an odd look. Then, I heard him murmur something, but I couldn't catch what he said.
What's he doing? What's he saying? Suddenly, the burning on my skin vanished and I blinked in surprise as I took my hand back and rubbed the skin where there had once been pain.
"I didn't know you could do that." I marveled.
"I can only heal small wounds." Auron replied before growing silent. I turned away and smiled a small smile to myself. I guess that's his way of apologizing. Then, from above we heard footsteps and we stood at the sound of Yuna's voice.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'll go and inform Seymour of my decision." They were almost to us when there were sudden gasps and cries from above. Everyone turned and I could hear weapons being drawn.
"Lord Jyscal!" A Guado exclaimed. What's going on? Who's Lord Jyscal again? Oh, yeah, that's Seymour's father. I had my hand on the hilt of my sword, ready for battle, but Auron suddenly spoke.
"He's Lord Jyscal no more. Yuna, send him." I listened for any other sounds but could only hear footsteps and then the cry of the Pyerflies as Yuna danced.
From behind me, Auron suddenly dubbled over and groaned as if in pain. I spun around in surprise and crouched down in front of him.
"Auron?" I slowly reached a hand out to him.
"Don't." I immediately shot my hand back and heard him slowly stand.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly as I stood up as well, but Auron ignored my question.
"Go now. Talk later." He turned away and started down the stairs first as the rest of us followed. What's up with him? As we walked quickly back to the Manor, the others began to discuss what had just happened.
"Who's this Jyscal guy?" Tidus asked after a while.
"He was Seymour's father.
"Why did he suddenly pop up like that?
"He was an unsent...he died unwillingly." Auron explained.
"What does that mean?" Tidus asked.
"It means he died an unclean death." An unclean death, eh…could something have killed him? Or what if someone murdered him? I pondered.
When we finally reached the Manor we let Yuna go inside while the rest of us stayed outside to wait for her. Shouldn't maybe one of us go in with her? No one did, of course, but we didn't have to wait long outside. Several minutes later Yuna walked over and informed us that Seymour wasn't inside.
"Hey, guys!" Tidus suddenly shouted from behind us. Apparently, he had wandered off earlier.
"I just heard that Seymour's headed to some Macaroni Temple." I snorted at this and Wakka quickly corrected him.
"That's Macalania Temple."
"Well, we might as well go there now." Yuna began. "It's the next temple anyway." We agreed with this and walked throughout the rest of the streets of Guadosalm before finally reaching the Thunder Plains.
As we stood under a rock shelter near the Thunder Plains, I heard Rikku shiver from behind me.
"Oh no, we're here." She whimpered. I heard Lightening strike and thunder rumble as the rain drizzled lightly down. This sucks.
"How are we suppose to get through that?" Tidus asked skeptically. I believe that question should be rephrased as "how is Cynry suppose to get through that?" I thought with fear as I heard more lightening crash.
"See the lightening rod towers?" Lulu began. "The lightening is drawn to them. Hopefully." She added at the end, causing me to become even more fearful than before.
"We head North, not to near and not to far from the towers, ya." Wakka explained.
"Meaning we should avoid wide open areas." Lulu added. Lightening crashed, this one much louder, and Rikku squealed in fear.
"Um, I think I left something back in Guadosalm." We all turned to her with raised brows.
"Nice knowing you." Auron remarked.
"Okay, okay I'll go!" Rikku quickly announced and we began to walk out onto the plains. At first, I hesitated but then I rushed after the others as I became afraid of being left behind. Suddenly, I rammed into Wakka. I gasped as fell back on the wet ground and Wakka spun around in surprise.
"Whoa! Oh, Cynyr. You okay?" He asked and I heard someone walk up behind me. I was about to get up when they took hold of my arm and helped me up.
"How am I suppose to dodge anything out here if I can't even stop myself from bumping into everyone?" I asked with a bit of frustration.
"Stick close to me." Auron's voice said from behind me and I realized he had been the one to help me up. I turned to him but he was already walking past both me and Wakka. I quickly caught up with him.
"Even if I stick close to you how will I know when to jump out of the-" Auron suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me to the other side of him as I gasped in surprise. Lightening crashing loudly about a foot of where I had once stood.
"That's how." Auron said before walking away. "We've got to keep moving."
"Couldn't you warn me next time?"
"Humph. It comes too quick for that." I sighed softly to myself and decided not to argue. Lightening struck often and thunder rumbled just as loud, causing Rikku to scream every time. I sighed quietly to myself, listening to the sounds of our footsteps splashing on the watery ground.
"Auron…" I began slowly, "how is it that you and Tidus know each other?"
"I knew his father. When Jecht died I made a promise to him that I would look after his son." He explained.
"So, are you from Zanarkand to?" I asked slowly with a raised brow. Before Auron could answer he grabbed me and pulled me out of the way of another lightening bolt.
"No." Auron answered briefly before letting go of my arm. When the silence from him continued I got the feeling that the matter was closed. So, I decided to change the subject.
"How old are you, Auron?"
"Humph. Why do you want to do?"
"Just a question." I shrugged.
"Thirty-five."
"Really?"
"Is that so hard to believe?" I bit my lip nervously. Well, kind of. I actually thought you were older.
"N-no…I just- never mind." I muttered and heard him chuckle. Lightening struck again somewhere in the distance and we heard Rikku squeal for the hundredth time before exclaiming loudly, "I hate lightening!"
"How old are you?" Auron suddenly asked.
"Twenty-three."
"Really?" I began to laugh and Auron's deep but soft laugh followed.
"What are you guys laughing about?" Wakka suddenly shouted from ahead.
I grinned.
"Hurry. Start acting like we weren't talking about Wakka." I said loud enough for him to here. We passed by him and he gasped in surprise.
"What you talking about me for, ya?" I giggled to myself as he started for us.
"Just kidding Wakka." He scoffed as he began to walk past us and I smiled to myself in amusement.
"Wakka, you fall for a lot of things." Tidus suddenly remarked. A lot of us had to hold back a laugh as we found this to be very true.
"I do not, ya!"
"Fiends!" Lulu suddenly shouted. Ha! Great timing. All of us immediately ran forward with our weapons drawn, our footsteps spraying water in all , I was slower than the others so three or four people were already up at the front.
I could hear their attacks; Tidus swinging his sword, Wakka throwing his Blitzball, Kimahri swinging and stabbing with his spear, and Lulu casting her spells.
It didn't take long for them to defeat the three fiends so, we were back on the wet, lightening struck ground once again.
Auron resumed his place beside me.
"How long do you think Rikku will last?" I muttered.
"Humph."
I'll take that as a "not long."
Before I could open my mouth to say anything else I heard lightening up ahead and several of my fellow guardians jump out of the way. There were a few warnings amongst them and before I knew it, Auron was pulling me close to him with his arm tightly around my waist.
My breath caught in my throat as my right ear was pressed against his chest, one of my hands clutching the sleeve of his jacket. My eyes grew wide with surprise.
It was only for a few seconds, but it had been enough. The lightening hadn't even struck in this amount of time, there were no shouts, no thunder, only the sound of the light drizzle of rain and the loud silence that I could hear with that one ear.
:O -gasp- What just happened!
By the way, I know Tidus doesn't really say "Macaroni" temple but I wanted to add lib there cause I found it amusing. :)
Review! XD
Review! XD
