Title: Spiral of Love

Pairings: Kimiko/Rikku, Auron/Tidus, Yuna/Tidus, Wakka/Lulu, Kimiko/Yuna

Summary: Kimiko is the daughter or Sir Auron and a guardian of Lady Yuna…love is not that hard to come by in a group of eccentric people, but is the one she loves going to respond to her advances?

Warnings: More religious propaganda, death…death everywhere, Seymour being a dick, OC being sarcastic and scared, general fuckery as per the plot of FFX, stuff that didn't happen but I thought it was cool enough to put in, you know the usual schtick.

Disclaimer: If I owned them do you really think I would be writing about them?

Notes: Guys, I don't really like Seymour but he's a great villain. I especially hate all of the times you have to try and kill him, BUT he's still a great villain and thus one of the reasons this game is my favorite of the Final Fantasy franchise. Also, I'm quite impressed with myself at Kimi's development. I dunno, I've just got some pride and I'm rambling. Onto the show! Enjoy~

Thanks to: My original beta reader: Exxal! And to all of you lovely readers!

Chapter Nine

"The High Court of Yevon is now in session." Collectively, we raised our heads to look up at Maester Kelk Ronso. The only Ronso I had ever known was Kimahri and I assumed that every Ronso was quiet and relatively strong. This Maester made me feel no different, but I had a feeling that he wasn't aware of everything that was going down in Bevelle. Once upon a time, my father told me that Bevelle has secrets, so many that they had all spiraled out of control and it's only with a huge bandage covering the biggest of them all that stops the general populace from knowing everything or anything really.

He addressed Yuna, but our entire group squared our shoulders as we looked upon him, waiting for the questions that were to be asked and hoping that he would take into account our answers. We all realized that we would not have the upper hand in this court as Maester Mika, Maester Seymour, and Maester Kinoc were all standing around to stare down at us during the trial. I grit my teeth as Seymour smiled down at me, making my blood boil to new and unparalleled heights. The urge to punch him right in his smug mouth was tantamount, and so I had to look only at Maester Kelk lest I do something incredibly stupid.

As he listed the two crimes that we were to be punished for, I wanted to scream at him that it was not Yuna who was at fault for Maester Seymour's death, but that it was I. I had pulled the trigger that took his life, and at first I felt so guilty, only to see his true face and wished that I could pull the trigger again and again. I would rather pay for that crime alone than have Yuna and the others suffer even if they had a part to stop him. I was the one that really killed him.

I didn't realize that my hands were shaking—clasped into tight fists, until Rikku took my hand in hers and shook her head. When Maester Kelk explained that we conspired with the Al Bhed, Rikku's hand grew taut in my own and I laced our fingers together. Even if we explained that it was the Guado who struck deadly blows first, we understood that we would still be held accountable because of the fact that we were there and fought against them to protect the Al Bhed. They would rather shed the blood of those who didn't agree with their teachings—even though they did not follow them either—than sit down to negotiate with them.

There was a bitter taste in my mouth as I realized that the entirety of the Yevon faith was a sham, even before any of the Maesters had convinced me. The very faith that people were supposed to believe in was a farce and the people behind it disgust me more than anything.

"Your Grace…" I watched Yuna as Rikku held my hand, trying to explain her convictions and justify all of our actions. "…the real traitor is Maester Seymour. He killed his father Jyscal with his own hands!" The Maester had not believed her story until the blue haired freak nonchalantly agreed. It didn't matter to him that he killed someone who had raised him! I unintentionally moved up some, and Rikku jerked me back, shaking her head as she held onto my hand tight.

"Maester Seymour…is already dead!" With Yuna's revelation, none of the Maesters seemed particularly surprised at these turn events, which made me feel even more uneasy. Lulu explained that Yuna was only doing her job as a summoner, but even as she explained it, I realized that it did not make any difference to what the Maesters were going to tell us.

"Send the unsent to where they belong..?" Maester Mika had taken the place of Maester Kelk and chuckled down at us. My unease grew with every passing second and suddenly Maester Mika's body was engulfed in pyreflies. Our group gasped and I could feel Rikku's hand go slack in mine. I grasped it tighter, she was the only link I had right now and if I lost her this second I was going to be a goner—I probably would have tried to launch myself at any of the Maesters if I could have. "You would have to send me too…"

The Maesters agreed that death is eternal and absolute; the one thing that was suitable in order to help guide Spira through its trials and tribulations. The only things that were constant in Spira were Sin and death, and they made a point to explain that even though the deaths of summoners were not in vain, the rebirth of that creature was never-ending. They were explaining the truth of our world, the truth that no matter what lies they told to the general populace, we would never be free from Sin and would eternally be stuck with Sin and death. Spira would never know true happiness no matter what.

Yuna tried to keep her voice calm, even, and under control, but it would still break as she spoke to them. She tried to voice her opinions, tried to explain that there must be some kind of way to help Spira; we all wanted hope…but the Maesters were explaining to us that there was no true hope. The frustration was only building by their words and I wanted so much to go up to Yuna and shield her away from what they were saying. However, I was being grounded by Rikku's hands that were in mine, and the tug and pull from the two of us reminded me that I had open my ears and listen…that we all had to listen.

"Yevon is embodied by an unchanging continuity, summoner." Yuna sobbed as she stood, wanting to believe in something—anything else. "Those who question these truths—they are traitors!" Yuna sobbed out again, but we knew that this was the end of our trial and that there was nothing we could do. We would be sentenced, and executed for the "crimes" we committed while the Maesters of Yevon did what they want with Spira.

Several hours later, we found ourselves in different cells—separated two by two—and Maester Seymour had given us each a look to taunt us to try and break free. The cells felt more like cages for wild animals beneath the monstrous city of Bevelle, and I wondered just who or what was held captive in them once before. There were so many thoughts rushing through my mind that I had to sit at one corner and pick at the metal bar of the cage, waiting for my mind to just shut up and get over it already. I was growing with a headache and the only company I had in my cell—which was the highest cage above a thick bridge in the middle of a towered room—was Lulu. She didn't pace herself inside of the damned cage; instead she stood there like a defiant rock waiting through the eye of the storm. Her countenance was enough to cheer me up for a bit, but then I could hear the racket down below.

My eyes fluttered closed as I steeled myself to listen to what was happening, a sigh escaped my lips as soon as I realized it was Tidus. Who was he with, and why hadn't they punched him to shut him up? I could hear him banging against the bars and calling out to the guards to set us free. That was definitely not going to happen, especially with the way he was acting. I opened my eyes again just as Lulu leaned over on the other side of the cage to look down below. She shook her head and sighed just as I had and muttered, "He really has too much energy."

"He's always been that way. Some things really never change."

Lulu turned to smile at me softly. "You can be just as loud as he is when you want to. That hasn't changed either, I assume." I stuck my tongue out at her as well as pulled down a corner of the skin near my eyeball. She only chuckled and shook her head, clearly didn't know what she should do with me.

Thanks to the uplift to my mood, I pushed myself off of the floor from the cage. I could hear the metal beneath my feet creak slightly from the shift in pressure, but I didn't think it was alarming. It wasn't a terrifically loud sound—only I could hear it, but it still made me stop in my tracks for just a moment. When I felt that nothing else was going to happen did I make a move towards Lulu so that I could peer at the bridge near where we were suspended. My eyes narrowed as Seymour wandered through a machinated door that was the only source of an entrance or exit. He swaggered in with an undeniable hint of amusement and I gripped two of the metal bars, clenching my hands into fists.

My blood boiled as he stopped right underneath the suspended cage that held my father and Tidus. The idiot was still holding onto the bars and screaming as if his life depended on it while Seymour merely chuckled. From where Lulu and I were located, we could only hear what they were talking about thanks to Seymour's sonorous voice that seemed to echo in the chamber.

"Your sentence has been decided." I barely noticed that Kinoc was beside Seymour, seeing as the half Guado held everyone's attention anyway. However, the second he spoke, his voice also echoed and I held my breath. So our execution was already decided? My pulse began to quicken as we waited for either Kinoc or Seymour to explain further, but the freak looked up to the cage I shared with Lulu and grinned at me before turning on his heels and leaving Kinoc behind. He wandered through the same door which he entered, his robes sweeping through the bridge and his countenance making me enraged by the very second. I was glad for him to be gone, and if only I still held my weapons could I have shot him again.

Before I knew it, Kinoc had thrown up his hands and our cage gave a violent start. My knees buckled at the cage began swinging this way and that, and Lulu began gripping the bars just like I had. We glanced over at one another as the chains above the cage started to unravel quickly, and then the cage began to plunge downward. There wasn't any time to scream as we held on for dear life, and just as abrupt as we began spiraling downward, the cage came to a sudden stop. I shuddered and breathed out shakily, eyes opened wide as I slowly let go of the bars and sank down on the cold floor of the cell.

Our cell was now located right in front of the bridge where Kinoc was standing. I continued to take in deep breaths as one of my hands clasped right onto my beating heart. Lulu moved away from the bars as well, leaning next to me to pat my head in a soothing motion. She mumbled so only I could hear, "Cruel and unjust…" I had a vague fear of our cage plunging into the unknown, bottomless pit beneath where we were suspended. The bridge was also suspended, but due to machinated doors and mechanics that made up the city of Bevelle, it wouldn't fall unless someone actively tried to mess with the gears that held it together. However, our cages must be different than the bridge due to what Lulu and I had experienced.

Two Bevelle guards left Kinoc's side and approached the cell. One held the keys while the other was merely sporting one of the forbidden guns that many others held during the wedding. He poised it in front of him; if he decided to shoot right then and there he would have killed me instantly. I narrowed my eyes as the keys jingled in the other guard's hand. He opened the cell and moved to stand beside it, motioning for Lulu and I to leave it. I didn't want to get up, but the guard with the gun cocked the gun at me and I could see that he wasn't going to hesitate to pull the trigger.

Lulu patted my head once more before walking away and out of the cell. Slowly, I rose onto my feet and followed her. The cell door was closed just as I had exited, and I could hear the chains holding the top of it begin to move. So they were going to transport it back up high while they went to retrieve all of us from our captivity. I didn't once turn to look back at it as the chains continued to shriek as the cage was suspended at the top again. Kinoc watched it before smiling at both me and Lulu like the creep that he is.

"You two are the first ones. Follow me." Kinoc began to waddle down the bridge and both Lulu and I were nudged in the back by the two soldiers. I had a mind to turn around and glare at them but due to their persistence I had no choice but to continue onward.

"Kimi! Lulu!" Just as we reached the sliding door, I smiled to myself as I heard Tidus and Rikku shout in unison. I desperately wanted to look up at them, but there was no time as both Lulu and I were pushed through the door. However, I knew that Lulu inclined her head slightly as we walked so that they would know we had heard them.

Once through the door, Lulu and I walked side by side as prisoners. Kinoc was leading the front while the two guards kept their guns poised at our backs. The dimly lit corridor felt much longer this time with its ghastly tapestries and moving portraits staring down at us accusingly. As we took several sharp turns before finally finding another sliding door-it was solid black just like the one to our cell; I raised an eyebrow wondering what could be in store for us, but as Kinoc turned, he only pointed at Lulu.

"You are to come through here. Gentlemen, take her." I opened my mouth to speak, confused as to why they were splitting us up yet again. Were we to be executed one by one? Without anyone to see us or hear us? Instinctively, I tried to reach out and grab Lulu but Kinoc took my wrist and tugged hard. "We have something special for you. Orders from Maester Seymour."

My blood ran cold and I swallowed thickly. Shit, I thought to myself, what am I going to do now? Lulu carried herself with dignity as she waltzed through the doors but not before she gave me a slight smile. I truly thought it was going to be the last time I ever saw her, and I choked on every word I wanted to say to her, and then she was gone.

Kinoc tugged my wrist hard again-urging me to walk again, and I nearly smacked right into him. I was able to stop myself but as I did so, one of my ankles twisted the wrong way and I hissed. It wasn't painful, just s bit of a shock to my system. I knew that if I walked it off, I would be fine. However, if Kinoc heard me, he said nothing nor did he look at me, and continued holding me as we walked through the corridor and into a new and unfamiliar area.

It wasn't a new corridor at all; instead I was brought into a room that seemed to mirror any of the Cloisters before we sent Yuna into the Chamber. There were glyphs all around, shining down at us-located on every single wall, on the ceiling, and when I looked down and gasped, there was another one right beneath our feet that took up the entire floor.

"What..?" I breathed out as Kinoc released my wrist.

He turned to look at me and chuckled, waving an arm in a sweeping gesture around the room he stated, "The entrance to your penitence."

I looked up at him with alarm; a few of the glyphs began to glow from the walls, signaling some kind of change within the room. Kinoc recited a prayer that I could barely make the words out of and soon enough all o the glyphs began to shimmer brightly like the ones before. Turning and spinning around, I watched as every single one shined and my heart began to beat hard within my chest.

"W-What's going on?!" I exclaimed, just as every one of the glyphs lit. By the time my shriek echoed loudly throughout the room, a light erupted from below me as the final glyph lit. I was in the center of it! As I tried to move away from the shining light and run toward Kinoc as his prayer grew with volume, I smacked right into an invisible barrier!

"No! Stop!" I banged against the barrier, tried to take my nails against it, and when neither of those worked I kicked and tried to ram my body into it. None of those methods worked as the glyph glowed more beneath my feet and started to morph and transform into something else. I might have cried, I might have pleaded for help, but my eyes never left the shimmering glyph as it turned itself to a jelly-like substance.

I don't know when I began to sink, only that it felt like I was stuck inside of quicksand. The jelly was the same light color of green as the glyphs and continued to suck me in. Even as I thrashed about wildly-still trying to escape-I could do nothing really but let myself be pulled in. Once my lower body was completely immersed, Kinoc chuckled and started to walk through the door on the opposite side. Several profanities left my mouth as my torso made it through the jelly, and that was when I realized it numbing my body completely.

With another gasp, I closed my eyes as my entire body was pulled through the jelly.

Somehow, I ended up dreaming. My body felt like it was floating downward through water, but I was not drowning in the slightest. My vision within the dream wasn't bleary but I could only see hazy shadows of people floating down with me. I realized they were my companions and so I tried to swim up to them, turning my body upright for I was floating down gently on my back, and tried to meet up with them.

My dream mirrored what happened with me and the floor glyph because no matter how hard I tried to fight, I could not make it to my friends. Just when I had given up all hope-for not even my dreams could save me-a voice called out to me reminding me of a mother speaking softly to a frightened child.

"You are not alone. Do not be afraid." Lithe arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me close into someone's body. My eyes had closed again and so I was not able to see them, only feel them. I relaxed in the embrace and I could feel that person smile with their every being. "It's time to wake up now. I'll be right with you here to guide you." I didn't want to wake; I felt safe and content and the woman laughed in my ear. "I know. But who will save Yuna? Rikku? Tidus?"

I gasped and opened my eyes, finding myself lying on my back completely with my arms splayed out on either side of me. I took a deep breath before I sat up and looked at my surroundings. "What the..." One of the first things I noticed was that there were pyreflies everywhere. Not a single space within the area did not have a pyrefly or two floating about. It kind of reminded me of the Farplane, and as I thought about that goosebumps rose on the flesh of my arms.

Rubbing at my arms so that I could calm myself down, I got up from the floor and took my surroundings in a little more. I was in a new room-a circular one at that; the walls were the color of dried blood and scratches of the Spiran language were etched into them-clearly done by human fingernails. I walked up to one of them, dragging my hand across the sentence pleading for someone to either save them or kill them. I bit my lip—saddened and angry for this person's demise. Then I felt a pang of desperation for myself; I was not going to be trapped in here!

I turned to look around for an exit, seeing a semi-circular patch against one of the walls. It clearly stood out from the others with its green and brown tones, and its carvings reminded me of miniature tree roots. I slid my hand across this as well, the roots lighting up brightly from where my palms touched them.

"Amazing..," I breathed out. After my hand managed to get near where the patch seemed to have an indentation, I could see that some of the lights weren't just for show. Some of them were part of the alphabet. Slowly, I drifted both of my palms throughout the patch to see what it could say. I desperately hoped that it was a way for me to leave the room and not rot from the inside.

I don't know how much more time passed before I figured out the message. However, once I recognized what it said I couldn't help but laugh. Of course, the Hymn of the Fayth would be my ticket out of here. But what if I didn't have enough faith in order to believe what I was singing?

"Figures." I huffed and moved away from the patch in order to sit in the middle of the room. Looking around at the depressing room, I felt like I was once again trapped in a cage with no way out. This time, I didn't even really have company except for the pyreflies floating about. Huffing again, I brought my knees to my chest and put my face on my knees.

Softly, and without looking up at the door, I began to sing the Song of Prayer that I had learned from both my father and my mother. I did not have the most talented of voices, but I was able to carry the tune over. At least the song gave me some comfort as I sat there with my face pressed to my knees, no longer feeling helpless.

"Ieyui

Nobomeno

Renmiri

Yojuyogo

Hasatekanae

Kutamae"

There was a shift in the room; the air grew warm and for a moment I could suddenly feel the room itself. I suppressed the urge to gasp as I lifted my head slowly. The scene splayed out in my mind would have made anyone disbelieve. The pyreflies had simultaneously stopped moving altogether, as if they were waiting for something and that was when I repeated the song, my voice growing louder, as if I had finally lost all of my self-consciousness and went for broke. I couldn't hide my amazement from what I was seeing and so I stood as I continued to sing.

The pyreflies which stilled once my song stopped began moving again, only this time they were moving in rhythm with my version of the Hymn. Some of them floated closer, basking me in an otherworldly glow and I giggled. There was an ecstatic, bubbly feeling rising within my chest as they drifted towards and around me. I didn't dare stop my singing; continually repeating the words so that my voice grew louder and started to echo within the walls, I barely had time to think about anything else. And that was when I heard it—a chorus of voices seemingly joining in with mine.

At first, there was a sliver of panic welling in my breast and threatening to take over the happy feeling, but it dissipated just as quick as it was there. I had thought I was completely alone, save for the pyreflies, and yet again I was completely thrown off track as the pyreflies began to transform into the ethereal bodies of their persons. There were seven of them in total, and of them felt like more than just ordinary citizens. One of which was the Fayth for the Aeon Valefor, and as we all sang together I could see her smiling brightly at me.

The song reached a crescendo once the pyreflies erupted into these magical people, and at once I figured out that they were all Fayth. Yuna must have met with each and every one of them on one occasion or another. However, that thought reached a crashing halt when I considered how many Aeons she has within the repertoire. Some of these Fayth we had yet to come across, but they still came to my aid. How and why did they..?

Once everyone had stopped singing, they looked at me expectantly. Suddenly, I felt self-conscious all over again, but I looked over at Valefor and she merely nodded at me. Hesitantly, I slowly spun around and nodded at everyone around me, the circle feeling a little claustrophobic even if they were all a good distance away from me.

"Thank you…everyone." I had no idea what else to say, and so I let my gaze wander down to my fidgeting hands. I wished that I would stop being so nervous, and yet I couldn't help myself.

"So she is the one that will help the Dream to let us rest again." I blinked up, staring intently at the seemingly youngest Fayth within the group, his face obscured by the hood of his jacket. He reminded me so much of Tidus when we were younger, and I could not explain why. He just felt very familiar, and without a thought I stepped a little closer to him.

"The Dream? Rest?" I asked him.

"We are tired; incredibly so. There is only a wish to rest now, and with your help, the help of the Dream, and all of your companions…we believe that we can achieve it." I continued to blink as I whirled around to face another Fayth. Another female like Valefor, but her expression was chilled and incredibly dignified. She reminded me so much of ice—she must be Shiva's Fayth.

"What? I don't quite understand what you're talking about. What's this dream and why can't you guys rest?" I fidgeted some more, tugging at a few of my fingers in my confusion.

"The same reason you are all on a journey and obtaining power from us; Sin is destroying this world more than ever before. It—he wants to be stopped; another Dream that we had called for and could partially clear his task before we had to summon someone else. He lies and waits for this other Dream to help him end the pain and suffering, just as you and the others expect to do." I whirled around again, gaze latching onto a male profile this time. His face was youthful and he smiled at me as he talked with a booming voice. He was like fire, more than likely he was the Fayth of Ifrit.

I shook my head and closed my eyes, a headache was welling up within my mind and I was suddenly very weary. Being in the presence of the Fayth was unnerving, amazing, and incredibly tiring. They were all trying to explain some nonsense or other about Dreams, Sin, and the benefit of Spira which was tied to their need to finally be put to rest. I always thought that Fayth stayed where they were and never seemed to move, but apparently I had thought wrong. They managed to seek me out underneath the city of Bevelle with all of its secret passages and disturbing leaders.

With a gasp, I opened my eyes again and they flitted over to the door that I had previously tried to open. It hummed with energy and glowed with a pure white light that was not there before. The Fayth parted their circle in order to let me drift over to the door. My right hand shot out to touch it, and I could feel the energy moving through it like a conduit. My hand glowed along with the door through my sense of touch, and it thrilled me like no other. After another moment of unabashed wonder, I turned slightly to look at the Fayth standing in a half circle.

"I can't guarantee that I understand anything about what you're going on about, but if it's about dealing Sin and taking him head on…we're doing our best." My hand clasped into a fist, and I brought it to my chest, right above my heart. "Everyone, especially our summoner, plans to defeat Sin so that Spira and all of its citizens will be safe. We still have a long journey ahead of us and although it's frightening, I'm sure we're going to continue onward. I'm guessing that this is your blessing to us to keep on going with everything that we have, correct?" The Fayth didn't answer me, they let me continue speaking.

A small smile passed over my lips. "On behalf of my group, I thank all of you for your support. I hope we don't let you down." I closed my eyes again and bowed low out of reverence and respect for every single one of them.

The air in the room shifted yet again, and I looked up to see that the Fayth exploded into pyreflies. Somehow, I felt that there were more than before and I watched them dance across my vision for a little while longer. I was still very unsure with what they wanted, with what they were trying to ask of me, but if it came down to defeating Sin then I'm sure everyone was still going to give a hundred and ten percent. We had come so far to give it up now. Of course, I wanted to give it up when I thought about all of the risks we had to take, but if the Fayth were counting on us just like the rest of Spira…

Turning around, I pushed my hand onto the glowing door and it gave way. As if it wasn't opened in a thousand years, it creaked with effort and I had to use some of my strength so that it would budge even further. Once I could wriggle through it, I wasted no time in leaving the depressing chamber, but not without one more look back. There were no pyreflies lingering about, and certainly the room felt even stuffier than before. It was as if no one had even been there with me, and even if I wanted to pass it all off as just a trick of the mind, I couldn't do that one bit.

Snorting as I left the room and wandered onto the corridor, I could only imagine everyone's faces when I told them what had happened to me. I turned this way and that, trying to gauge which way I should probably go. However, I didn't have to put much effort into it as miniature blue flames suddenly popped up and flickered down one of the paths. I looked around again and whispered a small thank you. With a gentle smile, I followed the burning cerulean flames through several twists and turns until I found myself in front of a large staircase that must breach the surface.

After my eyes trailed up the staircase and I breathed out, I turned around to see that blue flames had vanished into nothingness. There was no reason for me to be skeptical that the Fayth had undoubtedly helped me get this far, and with a rush of affection for the persons whom I barely knew and grew to praise as mystical beings, I started up the staircase.

A rush of air greeted me after many painstaking minutes of me climbing the ridiculously high staircase. I glared down below at the offending steps, suddenly feeling like I had reached some high point in heaven rather than the outside. I panted as I bent my body forwards and placed my hands on my legs. I was a little out of breath because at first I tried to walk, then run, and then walk quickly up the stairs. Luckily, I had only slipped once or twice and since no one was able to see me, I was not thoroughly embarrassed. However, I was just a little bit tired.

With a sigh of relief, I reached the top of the staircase and laughed wholeheartedly when I realized that I had managed to get myself to one of the bridges near where the wedding had taken place. It felt like it was a long time ago given that everything that had happened even if it was only a few hours or perhaps a day ago. I had no idea how long I had stayed locked up in that chamber until I began singing, and I really didn't want to know. The only thing I cared about now was trying to figure out if the rest of my companions were safe or not.

Stepping through another of the thousand doors located within Bevelle, I was greeted with a gust of wind and smiled. It felt good to breathe actual air and not the musky scent of the depths of the city. There was a cool breeze instead of the heat that channeled through the corridors, and I continued to take deep breaths as I walked out into the sunlight. I was free again and it felt absolutely wonderful. Turning my head this way and that, I tried to see if there was anyone around me. When I figured that I was definitely alone, I laughed again, this time holding my arms out and spinning a few times just to remind myself of just how I free I was. Once I was sufficiently dizzy enough, I leaned against one of the pillars on the bridge and then peered over the banister to look down toward the Highbridge.

As per usual, there were citizens still wandering around like everything was peachy keen and that there wasn't an attack on the city before. Priests and other clerical people were chanting or muttering to themselves in groups or alone while soldiers were keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity going on. It was going to be difficult to get down there, but I would have to do it if I wanted to see my friends and my father ever again. I bit my lip as I narrowed my eyes, searching for the quickest and safest way that would not get me caught as I wandered down to my destination.

There was another bridge that connected with this one that barely had any guards on it. The ones that were walking around on it were also doing a poor job of checking anything as they were just gossiping amongst themselves like a gaggle of girls. Rolling my eyes at the sorry state of Bevelle, I moved away from the banister and started to make my way down to that particular bridge.

Every so often a random citizen would ask me to give them instructions on particular places in the city, but I would wave them off with some excuse. I managed to duck behind passersby as several members of the clergy or soldiers would wander past me, and try to not lock gazes with them. If I was caught now I was dead meat, and that surely wouldn't help anyone. I sighed, realizing that I was wasting precious time but I had to be extremely careful. There were just so many goddamn people walking about the city right now and I'd be damned if I got caught and went back down underneath.

I hated to think about what else was underneath Bevelle's city. I wanted to know, but I didn't at the same time, and this contradictory state of mind was really pissing me off.

Finally reaching the next bridge, I had to slow my pace and pray that none of the guards saw me. I reached the middle of the bridge as I passed a group of guards seemingly enamored by their conversation, but for some reason or other one of the turned and looked straight at me. My heart nearly bolted out of my chest as I licked my lips and continued walking.

"Hey, you!" Just as I turned around to answer him or run off, someone had taken a hold of my arm and pulled me close to them.

"Ah, there you are little lady. I've been looking for you. I hope you've gotten the new supplies that I told you about." I smiled with relief as I looked over at O'aka XXIII, the traveling merchant who had been selling many of his supplies just like Rin had done during our trip. Somehow our group had been the one to gain his attention and every time we purchased something from him, there was a slight discount in the works. Seeing him again immediately made me feel better and the guard stared at me for a long while before shaking his head and nodding off to the two of us.

Promptly turning around so that we could continue arm and arm down the bridge, O'aka managed to just keep talking nonsense until we reached the end. He scanned the area to see that there weren't any more guards around and let me go. "That was a real close one, wouldn't want one of my favorite customers to get caught and end up knee deep in more stuff." I opened my mouth to speak or to at least say a thank you, but he held up his hand and shook his head. "Not a problem. I heard you and the rest of your group had a problem. Seeing you out and about I'm guessin' you're looking for them. I'm sure you'll find them soon…Is there anything you'd like to buy?"

I giggled, knowing full well that he was going to ask for something. I realized that I no longer had my weapons on me, and with that fact I felt incredibly useless and slightly naked. Fisting my hands down to my empty holsters I looked up at him and nodded. "Two new pistols, I know you've got some new wares."

He chuckled as he threw down his pack and began rummaging inside of it. I scanned the area yet again, trying to find more guards or at least any trace of my group, but so far there was no luck for either. I sighed, hoping that the others were still safe and sound. "Aha! Here we go! State of the art and I had a feeling that you would want these, they are the only one of its kind."

My eyes widened as he handed me the twin guns, their weight pressing into my palms like two old friends. Both of them were originally silver metal, very cool to the touch, but I could tell that it packed a lot of fire power. There was god etched into the sides of them and the trigger was a lot bigger than from the previous set. I couldn't help but admire the guns and decided to check out every inch of it. Once I was done tinkering with them, I smiled at O'aka and nodded.

"I'll take them. Maybe a few potions and rounds will do me some good as well." He laughed as I handed him the gil and we continued talking for a little while longer until I felt that I should be on my way. I really had to regroup with the others and I couldn't afford dawdling anymore. O'aka understood my position and he cheered me on as I ran off towards the Highbridge.

Not five minutes later had I literally ran into Tidus as he, Wakka, and Rikku emerged from a pool of water at the sides of the Highbridge. They shook themselves off, and I watched the female blonde especially as she mirrored her actions from the first day we met. Seeing her again like that made me cough and try to look somewhere else—anywhere else would do because I could feel the slight hint of arousal running through me. The last thing I needed to think about was a wet Rikku.

I shook the thoughts from my head before Tidus practically jumped on me and pulled me into a crushing hug. "You're alright!"

I sputtered and wheezed as I tried to get out of his hold but he wouldn't budge. "I'm fine, lemme go!" He didn't relent; instead he wrapped an arm around my neck and proceeded to rub his fist onto my head. Oh, I was so going to get him for messing up my hair! I tried to punch at his stomach as he continued with the noogie, but they were ineffective. I could hear Rikku giggling at our antics while Wakka just watched on and pretended as if he wasn't laughing as well.

"Of course the two of you would find each other sooner or later." Immediately, both Tidus and I stopped what we were doing—still joined together mind you—and looked up at my father. He snorted and shook his head before poking mine and Tidus' foreheads. "What a couple of brats." I could hear Wakka and Rikku laughing and as I looked behind my father, I could tell Lulu and Yuna were amused as well. Kimahri nodded to us and I supposed that was about as much amusement we were ever going to get out of the Ronso.

"Good to see you too old man." Tidus finally released me and I couldn't help but smile. I was glad to see that everyone was alright. "So, I guess we all had some pretty wild adventures while we were down there but I don't think we can trade stories out here in the open of Bevelle. Shouldn't we head out somewhere?"

Everyone took a moment to look around at one another before Lulu spoke up. "Macalania Woods isn't very far down from here. All we need to do is get through that entrance and we'll be fine. Besides, we can walk to the Calm Lands from there as well. Our journey is still going to continue, is it not?" She looked over at Yuna, who had been shaken up by the recent turn of events, but the brunette nodded but didn't say anything. I wondered just how broken was she?

I had moved in order to go and comfort her, but a gasp from Rikku made me stop and turn to see at what she was looking at. I grit my teeth as my hands balled into fists. Seymour was coming down with two guards behind him and Kinoc's dead body being held up by one of them. I realized that the Highbridge had lost a considerable amount of citizens in the time that we were standing here before he appeared. I had a terrible feeling about this.