A Generation of Legacies

Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, X-2, or any of its characters

Last Time:

The front door suddenly knocked a second time, and the young men's gaze shot towards it. Wordlessly, Koiray moved back towards the closet as Syan moved to the front door. Syan suddenly moved back and threw the second glass into the sink as Koiray shut the door in front of him.

The Deputy Crimson Knight heard the front door click open and Syan's voice say, "Uncle Alor! What are you doing here?"

Koiray's eyebrows furrowed at Syan's question and the mention of Alor's name.

"I was looking for your father, Syan. Do you know where he is?"

Judging from Alor's voice, he didn't sound any older or younger than how Koiray knew him. Was it possible for him to come back within the vicinity of somewhere he had already been? But even if he was in a time where Alor already knew of him, Koiray couldn't take the chance of changing anything. Who knew what could happen. In the brief amount of time Koiray had returned home, he had barely figured out anything. The simple version he could barely surmise was that he was the son of two prophesized figures, his parents' power had been passed to him, and he couldn't control it.

Nice…

"You and the rest of Bevelle," Syan's voice answered. "He left early this morning for the temple and said he probably wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Some training exercise for the guardian trainees."

"That man works harder than anyone else in the temple… I suppose I'll just have to find him myself later on. So, Syan, what have you been up to lately? Not too busy I hope."

"Not really."

"Still haven't decided what you want to start your apprenticeship on, now have you, Syan?"

"Are you going to start bothering me about it like the rest of the city?"

"Come now, Syan," Alor answered as Koiray heard a thump which he presumed to be a pat on the back, "you know that I would never do that, and your father wouldn't stand for it. Most fathers would have chosen an apprenticeship for their sons by now, but your father insists that you choose your own life. You should consider yourself lucky."

Koiray continued to listen from behind the closet door as he tried to keep his breathing even and unnoticeable. He moved his elbow back in an effort to be more comfortable, but instead, an object fell against the wooden door before him with a soft thud. He froze.

"What was that?" Alor began.

"Nothing, I'm sure," Syan quickly answered. "I was just cleaning up earlier, and I probably didn't put things away properly."

Soft footsteps approached the door, and Koiray silently hoped that Syan found a way to stop him. "I know you're a responsible young man, Syan, but no one likes to clean, let alone does it on their own when they don't have to."

Koiray bit his bottom lip and prayed to the Cheribum. If Alor hadn't met him yet… What would happen? The warrior monks were after him, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. He simply could have been mistaken for someone else. He could be five years before he met Alor for all he knew.

"Uncle Alor, it really isn't necessary."

Before Koiray could even take in another breath, a flood of light surrounded him and covered his eyes before they could adjust.

"Well now, Syan… harboring a fugitive? How very unlike you…" Alor began to comment.

Syan reached for him in a panic. "Uncle Alor, I can explain!"

Alor shook his head almost sadly. "And how unimaginative… the broom closet!" The priest smiled. "Koiray, come out here… I know you don't want to be caught by those warrior monks, but this is me we're talking about."

Koiray stepped out hesitantly as Syan watched in confusion. "You… know me?"

"Of course I know you," Alor answered. "It's only been four months."

"Four months? Then why are those guys still after me?"

Syan stared at them open-mouthed. "You two know each other?"

Alor nodded. "Yes. I'm a friend of Koiray's parents. When'd you get back into town, Koiray?"

He understood what Alor was asking. He was really asking how long he had been in this time. "About… maybe a few hours. Not long."

"Where did you come from?" Alor continued.

"Home."

"Syan," the Yevon priest suddenly turned, "you know what, I need to talk to your father sooner than I thought. Could you call your father up at the temple? Tell him I'm looking for him?"

The Bevelle native looked at both Alor and Koiray before nodding. "Of course. I'll be back in about ten or so minutes."

Alor smiled. "Thank you, Syan." The young man smiled back as he walked out the door, Alor and Koiray watching him. "Don't worry. Koiray and I promise not to throw too wild of a party until you return." Syan laughed and was gone. "Now, Koiray, how long was it from the last time you saw me, until now?"

Koiray shook his head sadly. "Being shoved through time kind of distorts what I hold as time but maybe about yesterday."

The Yevon priest's jaw dropped. "But… how can that be?"

"You tell me, Alor."

"Where have you been since you left this time?"

Koiray frowned. "Fifteen minutes after we did our little good-bye, I went back home. I was there for about a day, had things explained to me by mom and dad, then I had a headache, next thing I know, I'm in this time, and I ran into Syan. That's it."

Alor nodded thoughtfully. "So… did they tell you what you wanted to know?"

"Yeah… more or less. I'm just still trying to understand it all."

"Then would you mind if I asked you a question?"

Koiray shook his head. "Shoot."

"How can you travel through time?"

The young man laughed. "It's pretty complicated, but I'll do my best. From what my mom told me, it starts with the Cheribum and how he took human form."

If the Yevon priest had thought he could no longer be surprised, it seemed he had been gravely mistaken. "I'm sorry, Koiray, but did you say that the Cheribum took human form?"

"That's what my mom said," he answered. "She said about ten years after Bevelle was founded, the Cheribum became human as a high summoner for Bevelle. Eventually, my mother said that the Cheribum didn't want to go back to his form as an aeon because he fell in love."

"Fell in love?"

Koiray ruffled his hair and nodded before continuing. "So I'm told. The Cheribum married and had a child. That child began a bloodline that crossed with the Bevelle royal line. My mom said that the Cheribum told her it was when Takoire I married." Koiray paused, taking a breath. "The Cheribum is the aeon of time, and when he became human, he lost a significant amount of his power, but he still had some. When he had a child, he inadvertently gave some of that power away. That power was passed to Sareth, my father, and now, me."

Alor supported his head, his turn to be the one that was stunned at the information. "I would never have believed it… An aeon taking human form, and the Cheribum no less. The Cheribum… And you say Lady Kaira was of this bloodline?"

"Lady Kaira…?"

"She was the mother of your father. I suppose that makes her your grandmother."

"My grandmother…" Koiray drifted. "Yeah, I guess she was. There's still so much I don't know, Alor… My parents explained everything I needed to know, but it's not enough for me. I want to know what my grandparents were like, what my dad was like growing up, and how my life would have been different if I had known."

Koiray felt Alor pat him on the back comfortingly. "One step at a time. You'll pull through it; I know you will." He paused. "Tell me though… what did the Cheribum call himself?"

"…I think… I think my mom called him Kokon."

Alor shook his head. "So that must be the Cheribum's name… Well, I'll go see what I can find in the internal records."

The young man suddenly chuckled. "On your forbidden machina, Alor?"

The front door came open, and Syan came back in, apparently having heard the last statement of the conversation. "If Uncle Alor's a criminal," he added, "then so are you."

"But then you have to think that I've committed some kind of crime," Koiray answered.

"My father may be a mage in the temple," Syan returned, chuckling slightly, "and Uncle Alor may be a Yevon priest, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything the Clergy says. And I don't think you've done anything wrong if Uncle Alor approves of you."

Koiray laughed. "Well… if Uncle Alor approves…" The two others joined in laughing. "Syan, is Alor really your uncle?"

Syan shook his head. "No. He and my father go back, though, and I've just always called him uncle."

Alor smiled. "By the way, where is your father, Syan?"

"He's in a meeting, and he's not supposed to be disturbed… At least, that's what they told me."

"That's fine, then. I'll just have to drag him out of it." They laughed. "I'll get back to you on the information on Kokon, all right, Koiray?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Syan frowned. "Do you want to stay for dinner, Uncle Alor? I was about to start when you came."

Alor shook his head and waved his hands. "That's quite all right. I'll be fine. But, Koiray, will you be staying here while you're in Bevelle?"

Koiray frowned. He hadn't really thought about it until now. Syan had invited him into the house but not to necessarily stay the night. But before the Deputy Crimson Knight could dwell on it further, Syan answered for him. "He's welcome to. I don't think father will mind, especially if you're a friend of Uncle Alor."

"Thanks, Syan."

"Not a problem."

The Yevon priest moved to the door and waved. "I guess it's settled then. But, Koiray, do me a favor?"

"Sure."

Alor smiled. "Don't get Syan get into any trouble. We can't ruin his perfect image," he finished slyly as Syan rolled his eyes. He disappeared behind the door, closing it behind him as he left the two young men behind.

Syan laughed to himself softly, shaking his head as he moved to the stove. "Trust Uncle Alor to show you a good time…" Moving into one of the pantries, he spotted the two swords on Koiray's back. "Do you know how to use those things?"

"Huh?" Koiray followed Syan's gaze before he finally understood. "Oh? These?" He took them off his back, leaning them in a corner. "Hell yeah. My dad made sure of that."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Anyway, the only time I use them is to impress girls."

Syan laughed even harder than before. "I'm hopeless with weapons. I guess that gives me a slim chance of getting a girlfriend then."

"No one's helpless. You just haven't found the right weapon yet. And I don't think someone as suave as you couldn't get a girlfriend."

"You think so? How about you, Koiray? Do you have a girlfriend?"

Koiray frowned with a sad laugh. "That… is a complicated question. It might even be more complicated that the current situation with my parents."

"Try me. What's her name?"

"…Hara. We've been friends since we were kids."

"Childhood friends… that is tricky."

"No kidding."

Author's Notes: You guys, you can be assured that this story will not end. You can't be assured as to whether or not I'm going to be updating continuously. I've really been disheartened lately, and I don't see a reason for me to keep updating every Friday. In any case, tell me what you think in some reviews and we'll see what happens to Koiray next.