Chapter 7: Meeting the Maester

The following morning Byakko woke up earlier than normal, two hours before the sun rose. He sat on the roof of the travel inn and looked up at the sky, thinking about what the Al Bhed man had told him hours earlier: Umira is an Al Bhed. That changes everything. He would have to be even more careful that no one knows. He closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts, listening to the wind and the slumbering chocobos. Byakko knew that Izaya might try something if he wasn't on guard and with this new piece of information…

"Byakko?" a voice asked from below as he opened his eyes and looked down. Umira stood there, her hair down from the usual single ponytail, rubbing her eyes and holding Byakko's coat on her shoulders.

"Umira?" Byakko asked, jumping down, "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she yawned, "I'm ready to go if you are."

"Don't you think we should wait till the sun rise first?" Umira nodded as Byakko lead her back inside.

"Go back to sleep, Umira. I'll come get you when it's time." Umira nodded and walked back inside as Byakko sighed. His heart felt like it was racing… all because he saw how different Umira looked without her hair in that ponytail. She looked… pretty, almost beautiful. Her eyes had a deep blue color while the moon reflected from them; her voice sounded like an angel's when she had spoken so softly. Byakko leaned against a pole and put a hand on his chest, over his heart. He sighed again, calming down the beating in his chest. He couldn't be in love with her… He knew that she had no time for love; and even if she had all the time in the world for love, she couldn't be in love with him.

A few hours later, the sun began to rise as Byakko finished practicing some attacks using his sword. He put his sword into its sheath and looked out at the sunrise. He felt at peace during the sunrises; the world was at its quietest. Byakko smiled as someone patted him roughly on his back, causing him to stumble a little.

"Good morning, Byakko! How are you?" Izaya said, loudly, stretching and yawning. Byakko quickly recovered and sighed, "Fine. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes, I did. The medicine that the owner gave me made the pain in my jaw go away completely."

"Good." After a few moments, Umira walked outside, stretching and smiling, her hair back in a ponytail with her staff in one hand and Byakko's coat in the other. "Good morning to the two of you." She said, walking over to Byakko and Izaya. She held up his coat, "Here you go, Byakko. Thank you." She began to smile as Byakko took it from her and put it on over his sleeveless black shirt.

"You're quite welcome, Umira. Now then, we head for Mushroom Rock Road." Izaya's face lit up at those words.

"Mushroom Rock Road?! Maester Seymour is suppose to be there today! Let's get going!!" He said, jumping around like an excited 4 year-old child on Christmas day. Umira and Byakko let out a sigh as Izaya took off, running almost as fast as a chocobo.

Byakko looked over at Umira from the corner of his eyes, still thinking about what Rin had told him. She don't look like an Al Bhed; they have blonde hair and swirly green eyes… but Umira has short black hair and pale blue eyes. Maybe Rin was wrong.

"Byakko, did you hear me?" Umira asked, bringing Byakko out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? Did you say something, Umira?" He asked with a goofy grin on his face.

"I said, do you think we'll catch up to Izaya?"

"We will. He doesn't have the endurance to run for a long time. We'll run into him sooner or later."

Umira giggled a little then sighed, "I'm… a little nervous about meeting Maester Seymour. I mean, I've been slacking off in my summoner's training. Do you think he'll notice?" Byakko smiled at her, "I don't think he'll notice. You're a very strong summoner, Umira. If anything, he might say how strong you are."

"Really?" Umira smiled as Byakko nodded. As they reached Mushroom Rock Road, they saw Izaya sprawled out on the road, gasping for air.

"See, Umira? I told you he couldn't make it all the way." Byakko chuckled as Izaya sat up and smiled.

"I know Maester Seymour's here somewhere…"

"So, what's so great about Maester Seymour, Izaya? Isn't he just a Guado?" Izaya quickly covered Byakko's mouth.

"Don't say that! Maester Seymour isn't just a Guado; he is half Guado, half human. His father fostered a bond between us and them. He is, in my honest opinion, the best maester we have in Spira!"

"That's enough, Izaya. Must I endure such praises from you every time we meet?" They heard a voice asked behind them. Byakko saw Seymour walking up to them with a smile on his feature. Izaya smiled, turned to Seymour, and bowed, "Maester Seymour, why are you here?"

"Please, Izaya. No need for formalities. I'm here to overlook Operation: Mi'ihen as a denizen of Spira." Byakko looked on quietly as he noticed that Umira had disappeared.

"And this is Byakko, right Izaya? The one who ran from Bevelle?" Seymour asked, looking at Byakko with a curious look on his face. Byakko looked at Seymour.

"I am. What of it?"

"And your summoner is Lady Umira, am I right?"

"Yes, she is. Why do you ask?"

Seymour sighed. "Isn't she beauty personified? Her smile could easily calm the souls of many who have fear in their hearts. A woman like her comes around once in a lifetime…"

Byakko took a noticeable step backwards with a disgusted look on his face. Izaya looked over at Byakko as Umira walked up to all of them and bowed in front of Seymour.

"Rise, Lady Umira," Seymour said as she rose up and looked at his face. Seymour smiled at her then bowed as well.

"If you excuse me, there is a matter of great importance that I must tend to. Till we meet again, Lady Umira." Seymour walked away as Umira shuttered.

"No offense, but Maester Seymour is creepy in person." She said as Byakko walked beside her. "Where did you run off to? I was worried."

"Oh. I was talking to the Al Bhed who was helping with this operation. They wanted to say a prayer before the operation began… and a prayer that Yevon would forgive them for using machina." Byakko nodded as Izaya scoffed.

"Yevon may forgive those who aren't Al Bhed… but Al Bheds wanting forgiveness? That's rich."

"And what's wrong with that?" Byakko snapped, "Al Bheds who want to rid Spira of Sin should be forgiven by Yevon! I know I would!" Umira looked at Byakko and smiled. Izaya just walked away in the direction Seymour left to.

"I didn't think you cared so much about the Al Bhed like that, Byakko," Umira said, smiling, "It's good to know that side of you." Byakko looked at her with a confused look on his face.

"Really?"

"Yes. It means that you have a very caring heart." She placed her hand on his chest, right over his heart causing him to blush. "It's that kind of caring that makes you a perfect guardian for me."

"T-thanks, Umira."

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"Now, Izaya. I'm very busy. Are those rumors about Lady Umira true?" Seymour asked quietly as Izaya nodded.

"Yes, I believe that she is Al Bhed. She was speaking perfect Al Bhed on the way to Luca, sir."

"Good. You know what you have to do, now."

"Yes, sir."

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AN: Whoa, is Seymour creepy or what? I think Byakko had the right idea. -picks up a bamboo staff- If someone said something like that about me, I'd kill him!