Chapter 10- Purpose

"Yuffie, why are we doing this?" Sairu asked meekly, as he stood up, weakly clutching his wooden sword in his hands. Attempting to look her in the eye, Yuffie then charged forward and attempted to strike Sairu again, and once again, Sairu simply blocked the attacks, refusing to land a retaliated attack on his sister. Meanwhile, their little audience were watching with intrigue and concern. Although the boys, Ienzo, Isa and Lea were watching with pure seriousness, Kairi was blatantly afraid of what was happening to Sairu. She had never seen him so quick to give up, so defeated, so downtrodden. Whenever he tried something new, he gave it every ounce of effort he could muster; he could always find something to smile about.

But after sparring with Sephiroth, something inside Sairu was now broken, so much so he was refusing to face Yuffie in this match with so much as a smile on his face. Then, as she continued to watch their match, she and Sairu made the briefest of eye contact, and when she locked eyes with his chocolate orbs, she saw a blank feeling in his eyes, as if his body was a puppet on strings. "Sairu... what did Sephiroth do to him?" Kairi then asked her fellow spectators, at which Isa closed his eyes and explained "Sephiroth didn't do anything particularly to him. Sairu simply never faced an opponent as powerful as Sephiroth before, even for a sparring match. It seems to me, Sairu thinks he can't win a fight again, and has unconsciously refused to lift a sword since. Considering whom his family are, I would have expected to join them on the front lines as a combatant, but to face an opponent who has never been defeated at such a young age has shaken his resolve. In other words: Sairu has given up fighting"

Hearing this explanation, Kairi could only gasp in shock, as the idea of Sairu giving up was simply unconscionable to say the least. While she now understood why Sairu was behaving differently, that still left one other question: "Then why is Yuffie fighting Sairu if he won't fight? Wouldn't that make it worse for him? They have to stop; fighting won't solve anything" As she was about to run to stop Yuffie, a firm clasp on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks. She turned to notice Ienzo looking at her with a stern look in his visible eye, and a shake of his head. "Why, Ienzo? We're only making it worse if we stand here and do nothing" Kairi protested, but Ienzo's grip on her shoulder did not relax as he shook his head again. "No, we'd make it worse if we interfere" "What?!" Kairi protested, but a risen hand from Lea silenced her as he proceeded to explain. "Kairi, Ienzo's right. If we stop this fight, Sairu may never get his confidence back, because to him, it'll look like he can't fight at all. Having suffered a major loss to Sephiroth already, helping him will make him feel more helpless than he already does. If you want to help him, then stay back and show him your support from the sidelines. With Yuffie fighting him, when she can't use a sword, is how she and him do things... because they're not the kind to give up"

"Yes, I concur" Ienzo then spoke up, releasing his grip from Kairi's shoulder. "Kairi, listen. Yuffie is like Sairu was when he sparred with Sephiroth: she is at a clear disadvantage using a sword to fight Sairu, but she's fighting all the same. Sairu thinks in very much the same way, and Yuffie is trying to teach him something important: not everything goes how we want it, but that's no reason to throw in the towel. Sairu needs to remember that, and Yuffie's the one who can bring it home to Sairu" Ienzo explained, to which Kairi could only nod in understanding, but she was worried all the same.

Meanwhile, Sairu was still blocking or being hit by Yuffie's attacks, even though he noted her posture for holding her sword was flawed in myriad ways, but as it was, Sairu didn't care; he just wanted to stop fighting her. Why was she doing this, when it wasn't even her problem? "Come on, stop standing there! Fight!" Yuffie declared in an uncharacteristically serious voice. "Yuffie, there's no need for us to fight anyway. Come on, let's just stop this" Sairu weakly countered. "Stop that! We're going to fight, whether you want to or not!" Yuffie exclaimed in exasperation, and with another swing, Sairu fell to the ground. As he lay there, Yuffie lamented "This isn't like you... When I saw you train, you gave it everything, even when you couldn't even stand up. Now, you're just lying here, not even trying to fight back, refusing to stand at all. Sairu... what happened? What did Sephiroth even do that was so scary that you can't fight back?"

Still on the ground, Sairu simply said nothing; unseen to his friends, tears streaking his face, drowning in shame. He did know what happened, even why he was how he is, he just didn't know how to say it. Until, he rose to his feet, the sword still in his left hand, he looked at her with hopelessness the likes of which none of them had never seen before. "Sairu... What-" Yuffie tried to say, but was stopped by Sairu "You just don't get it. When I first started training with Squall, I felt something: when I touched this sword, I felt like... I'd been holding it forever. I thought I could become the best of all. But when I fought Sephiroth, I was no match for him. I knew that he was older than me, but I thought if I could win, I could become the best. But... now I know: I won't ever become as strong as him. I can't even defeat Squall in a match. And... I'm scared"

"Scared?" Yuffie enquired. "What he did to the sword I held that day, I couldn't even see it. It was so fast... I ... I thought it would be me next. If I face someone like Sephiroth again, I know I won't win. This was the one thing I could call my talent, but if I'm no good, then why bother anymore? Why fight, when I'm not good enough to win?" After hearing his confession, Yuffie could only lower her head, before sharply lifting her head and retorted "So what?! You're not the only one who can't fight, but... you're better at it than the rest of us" "Huh?" "Sairu, you know I can't use a sword, so why do you think I'm using one now?" Hearing Yuffie's question stiffened Sairu, as he couldn't think of an answer. "Yo, Sairu. Don't let one loss get you down. We all lose sometime, and I bet Sephiroth has lost somewhere, even if we don't know when, where or how. So come on, you can win! Give it your all" Lea then spoke up, pumping the air with his fist.

"Sairu. I may be smart, but you can run, throw punches and kicks much better than I could hope. That's why... I hope I can become as physically strong as you one day" Ienzo then confessed, which shocked Sairu beyond all recognition. "Sairu! If you do your best, then you never lose! You can win, you just keep trying when you do lose!" Kairi shouted in a manner that Sairu knew all too well, which actually brought a slight smile to his face. Finally, Isa then simply said "Don't hold back" with an affirmative nod. Hearing and absorbing all that they said, Sairu then beamed the biggest grin they had ever seen before. Seeing this, Yuffie drew her sword up and looked at Sairu determinedly. "Now, are you ready?" she quipped cockily. "Yeah... no holding back!" Sairu exclaimed joyously, and in a burst of intense speed, he was within range in a matter of milliseconds, and began a fierce barrage of attacks that kept Yuffie on the defensive, and with the cheers roaring from the spectators, Sairu performed one final slash upwards, only to instantaneously switch his sword from his left to his right hand, and swinging it down in a reverse of his last move.

The force of the swing was strong enough that Yuffie lost her grip on her sword, and it flew away, and, pointing his blade at Yuffie, the victor stood triumphant again, bearing a look of collected confidence. Knowing it was over, Ienzo, Isa, Lea and Kairi ran towards them and extended their congratulations to the winner: a noogie from Lea, an awkward thumbs-up from Isa, high five from Ienzo, and an almost bone-crushing hug from Kairi. Once she released him, Sairu then turned towards Yuffie, and gave a sincere smile of gratitude at which Yuffie blushed in embarrassment, as she awkwardly nodded affirmatively. Seeing this, everyone noticed Ienzo was much quieter than normal, and they all realised: he had entered into a trance again as he looked at her, a small smile dancing on his lips and a pale flush in his cheeks, at which Sairu and Kairi began sniggering again, much to his chagrin.

"Congratulations, Sairu. It appears you passed" a voice then spoke up. As everyone turned their attention towards the source, they were greeted with the presence of the hero himself. As Sephiroth descended the steps in a majestic manner, all had noticed his sincere gaze was cast upon Sairu himself. "P-passed? What do you mean?" Sairu enquired as Sephiroth approached him. "What I mean, Sairu, is that our sparring match was an act to cover my ways of testing your strength as a warrior of the future" "A test?" Yuffie addressed Sephiroth, who nodded in Yuffie's direction before he began to explain. "You see, everyone, Squall came to me to train Sairu as a pupil of mine. However, I cannot say I would have been the best choice for a teacher, so we came to a compromise: I would put Sairu in a test to gauge whether or not he would understand the true meaning of being a warrior. The sparring match served as the first step, towards Sairu's journey of understanding the most important thing a warrior can ever have, because it was more efficient than just telling him.

"However, the reason Sairu and no one else for that matter was told what I had planned, Sairu would be aware of what I was looking for and would likely have reacted differently. Obscurity was very important to ensure the best results. With Sairu losing to me in a manner where it was effortless for me to win meant Sairu had to endure the ghastly feeling of powerlessness, and hopefully know that not every battle is won, and that a true warrior fights time and again, even when they have lost. This is because without any purpose for fighting, one cannot call themselves a warrior. I was aware from Squall about how much his friends meant to him, and I concluded that Sairu trains to protect his friends in future when he is stronger. This is thus, his purpose for battle.

"Of course, I had not expected Sairu to slump into as deep a depression as he did, and for that, I am truly sorry. I was still aware of the risks, but I knew that I had to teach Sairu early on about always trying to win, no matter what he faces, his purpose would be set, his spirits never wavering. However, my greatest mistake was in believing he could overcome it alone. I should have realised that in the end, only his friends could remind him of what his purpose was, and that, a true warrior is one who values his friends' lives even above his own. Now, because of your friends, Sairu, your spirit as a warrior burns brightly again; you just needed to turn to your friends for them to stoke the flames" Once Sephiroth's explanation came to an end, he then directed his gaze specifically on Sairu and then asked "So, Sairu, I would very much like to know: why would you fight a battle that you know you cannot win?"

Hearing this question, Sairu folded his arms and began to think hard. For a few minutes, he stood there, and after some time, he unfolded his arms and looked at Sephiroth, determined. "No matter what, I will fight to protect my friends, and family" Sairu stated calmly, at which everyone present smiled proudly, including Sephiroth. "Just what I expected to hear. Well done, Sairu. You have come a long way into becoming a fighter, but don't forget: things will only get harder" And with those final words, he gave one last nod of his head, and proceeded to return to the castle, where out of everyone's sight, he smiled warmly.

Much to everyone's ignorance, there were some additional observers to the developments that occurred on their home turf. Watching from atop a balcony on the lower floors of the palace, stood Ansem the Wise and Xehanort, who watched the scene unfold with warmth. "Well done, Sairu. It appears it is not simply Ienzo who needs his friends" he spoke benevolently. "So it would seem, Master" Xehanort agreed, watching with intrigue as Sairu became involved in a mock fight with Lea, with everyone attempting to separate the two. "He is special, that boy. To see his face so full of life causes great joy to bloom within my heart. I can only guess that he will become a mighty warrior in future, in which case, we need not proceed with our plans for him"

"What do you mean, Master Ansem? Were we not going to use Sairu as a basis for our research to be formulated?" Xehanort asked in confusion and slight disappointment, which did not go unnoticed by Ansem. "Indeed we were. But consider, Xehanort: if we were to succeed with our endeavours by using Sairu as our test subject, I fear his purpose for battle may be corrupted. I am not implying I know of his past before he came here, but I can only construe that Sairu's past is dark and perhaps better left forgotten in the darkness of his heart, which may in time become filled with a senseless need for retribution should he come to know at his age now. He is still a child, and it could cloud his interpretation of the world. We would do better to investigate his memories when he is older, more strong-willed than he is. Even we scientists must not disregard morality in our pursuit of knowledge; we are still human at the end of the day".

"I see... perhaps you are right. He should take the time to enjoy life himself, and his time as an infant may take that away from him. But still, how are we to resolve this dilemma?" Xehanort enquired politely to which Ansem gave his paternal smile. "I am sure you know the answer to your own question, Xehanort. Come, let us return to the laboratory, and we shall proceed in time" Ansem replied cheerily and he turned to return to the palace itself, with a confused Xehanort in tow.

"Yuffie and everyone really saved me that day. Even though I know Sephiroth did that to help me grow stronger early on, I'm still rather annoyed he didn't tell me straight off. But I understand his motives nonetheless, and I am thankful for that much. It was here that my friendships with everyone defined my character from then on. I lived my life for them, and I know they did the same. And this memory would be the one thing that kept me going all this time and I know it will in the future too..."