Chapter 10: My Guardian

Yuna's POV:

I had an idea…an idea that I really hoped Praetor Baralai would see fit to go through with. It really was in everyone's best interests. Praetor Baralai wouldn't have to worry about dealing with 'him'. The man would be somewhat free…and it would benefit me also, because hopefully I would be able to get to know 'him' better. Maybe I would eventually find out the truth. But right now…although I knew that this man was my first obligation…I couldn't turn down the priests at Besaid who had called on me. I was initially only supposed to be focusing on becoming a summoner…however when I had taken on the duty of this man…I didn't think that I would be needed so soon. I thought that it would be at least a few more weeks.

But now the time has come and I must do all I can to make everyone happy.

My eyes caught sight of a cloak disappearing behind a corridor.

"Praetor Baralai." I called out.

I didn't hear him stop…I didn't hear him yell out, "Yes what is it?"

I just heard footsteps fading, as he moved deeper into the temple.

"Praetor Baralai." I called out a little louder.

This time the boots stopped meeting with the hard floor. He had stopped. Then I heard him start walking again…except this time he was headed in my direction.

I stopped where I was and saw him appear from behind the corner on my left.

His face said all I needed to know. He was annoyed, he was tired and frustrated…or should I say stressed?

He folded his arms and seemed desperate to leave. He nodded as an indication for me to get out what I needed to say.

"Oh…well…I was wondering…" I began, as I stared at the floor, then with a rush of confidence I lifted my head up and said, "I am to become a summoner any day now…hopefully…so if I may…could I ask the detainee to become my guardian?"

This must have come as a shock to him, as his eyes widened and he let his arms fall to his sides, as he stared at me as if I was mad.

Perhaps I was…but this was the right thing to do.

"What?" he blurted out.

I stared at him and wanted to make him see that I was serious. I placed my hands on either side of my body and said, "I think it's best this way…you won't have to worry about him…and I will be able to get some answers…he is my responsibility after all." I concluded reassuringly.

He still appeared stunned, but he seemed to actually consider my suggestion.

He propped one elbow up on his other arm and raised his right hand to rub his chin.

After a few minutes of his watchful eyes staring straight into mine, as if trying to work out whether I was serious or not, he finally nodded and began to walk past me towards the main entrance again.

I turned and said quietly, "Is that a yes?"

He stopped, turned to face me and sighed, "Although I know that it is completely foolish in every way…I still think that you are the one who can do it."

A meek smile appeared on his mouth and I returned the gesture.

A few moments later we were standing in the middle of the room…and I was unchaining 'him'. The minute his wrists were loose he sighed in relief and pulled them to the front. I walked around to face him just in time to see that he was rubbing them gently. I also noticed the state his hands were in.

How painful.

"Well…it seems that it's your lucky day." Came Praetor Baralai's newfound calm voice.

The man looked up in confusion and stated, "Huh?" and then glanced towards me on his left before I looked back to Baralai.

"Well…our Lady Yuna has requested that you become her guardian…" he stated, as if that should have been the most obvious thing in all of Spira.

The expression that appeared on 'his' face was too much. I didn't want to ask him to become my guardian…but I knew that this was the only way to get him away from here.

The really strange thing was…this man was a killer in Praetor Baralai's eyes…not to mention practically the whole of Spira. So why was he allowing this man to go with me?

"Are you serious?" came the man's quiet voice, which was practically almost a whisper.

I lifted my head a little so that I was staring into his face and nodded lightly as I shut my eyes…daring not to meet up with his.

"Yes we are…so I will be sending my men to follow you up to Macalania…from there on you are on your own…I have to keep my distance from Guadosalam at the moment…" Baralai trailed off as he stared out through the entrance of the temple, into the sunlight, which filtered peacefully through the door.

However to the leader of New Yevon, all it meant was that another day would soon be over…which left less then a week before this man was to be killed whether he was guilty or not…and by the way Baralai had spoken to me…I sensed that there would be trouble for him as well.

But right now I had to focus on two things…becoming a summoner so that I could hopefully give hope to all of Spira…and the other was the man.

It was then that Praetor Baralai began to leave the room once again…however this time I didn't call out after him. I knew that he was still not thinking straight…which kind of made me worry…what if he was so confused that he didn't know what he was doing anymore? I didn't want to leave him like this…but I had to.

I turned back to the man that was now swinging his arms back in forth, letting his hands meet at the back and when they swung around to the front they met again. He did this while sliding his feet over the floor lazily as he faced the other way just staring off into the distance.

"Um…" I muttered under my breath…hoping that it would be enough to get him to come back to Spira.

He didn't seem to hear me so I tried a different approach.

I drew in a deep breath, feeling my chest push out…lifted my fingers to my lips and blew with all my might…releasing an ear-piecing whistle to echo around the room.

That got his attention.

He spun around abruptly and appeared startled.

I let my fingers linger above my lips a little longer, as if to prove my point. I wanted him to know that I wanted him to listen to me.

He stared at me for a moment before wincing in pain.

"Ahh…damn it." he whispered, as he looked intently down at his torn up palms.

I knew that I could help him, so I walked towards him, stopping just a few feet in front of him.

He seemed to notice that I was near, so he let his eyes travel up my body to meet up with my face once more.

"Let me see your hands please." I requested.

He shook his head and placed them behind his back…he almost reminded me of a small child who had just gotten into trouble.

I smiled at this and then forced myself to become serious once more.

"I only want to help." I reassured.

He shook his blonde head once more and began to walk backwards, "Oh no…you've already helped me enough…I won't be looked upon as a charity case."

I walked towards him however and said, "I don't see you as any such thing. I only want to take away your pain."

He seemed to believe me for a second…but that disappeared as he turned around with his back to me and pulled his hands back to the front…almost as if he was trying to hide them from me…in case I tried to heal them.

"Oh please…why are you so stubborn?" I inquired, as I watched him stop and lift his head to stare up at the ceiling of the temple.

He then spun around to face me with a scowl upon his face. I wasn't intimidated, just confused by his strange behaviour.

"I told you that I don't need your help." He said in a low tone...almost threatening.

I watched him carefully for a minute, giving him a chance to say something like, 'fine I'll go'…or something along those lines.

When he didn't, I kept my face placid as I said, "Then stay here."

With that I walked past him and left the temple thinking…what was that? I have never acted like that before. What was happening to me? He had caused me to say something that I usually would have thought of saying but never actually said it.

Well I guess it will work…hopefully. Seeing as it always worked on Rikku back in Besaid…she always ended up following me. But that was only playing around. I don't know whether it will work on him. But then again…he has nowhere else to go but with me. And I very much doubt that he will want to stay here.

Okay just keep walking and any moment he will come running out of the temple calling out after you.

However, it seemed that maybe I was wrong. I had now walked so far that I had lost sight of the temple and was sure that he had decided to stay in Bevelle. I suppose the idea of becoming my guardian was a little too farfetched. Perhaps he would rather stay in that cell then tag along with me.

I turned my head to look back at the road behind me. Nothing but the consistent blowing of the wind and the last of the Yevonites heading back to the temple. At least they had journeyed with me this far, but I still wanted the comfort of anyone standing beside me…even if it was to be that stubborn, supposed killer.

I sighed a little knowing that I was going to be alone for quite some time until I was to find a guardian.

As I looked to the path ahead, I sensed that something wasn't quite right. I stopped in my tracks and stared around at the scenery. My eyes took in every detail of my surroundings and I knew that although the wind seemed calm, and although the trees swayed peacefully…this was the time that a foe would usually strike.

My ears suddenly picked up something from above. I heard the slightest crumbling of bark beneath the weight of…perhaps a fiend. I knew that if I was to win this battle that I would have to keep walking as though I hadn't suspected a thing. Otherwise the creature or person would stalk me the entire way, waiting until I fell asleep, so that it could snack on my flesh.

So with that in mind I kept walking forwards. I kept my ears alert for any sound that would indicate that I was in danger.

A few minutes passed without a sound, until…I heard the familiar pound of feet descending onto the ground. It was a quiet thump against the path…but I heard it nonetheless and I was determined not to let my body show any sign that I knew something was behind me.

I was going to wait for the opportune moment…and when that came…I hoped for the both of us that the battle would end nice and clean.

My breathing was becoming anxious as I felt the entity close behind. I was starting to think that perhaps the rival knew that I knew it was there. So it was then that I decided to put my plan into action.

It was now or never. Time to put all those hours of martial arts into practice.

So I abruptly stopped, spun around and dropped to the ground, sweeping my feet across the path in a circular motion until I met contact with a pair of legs.

The body that was behind me immediately landed on the ground with a loud thud.

Not too bad for a beginner.

However my attitude changed when I took a closer look at my supposed attacker.

My eyes widened when I recognised the figure. I raised my left hand to my lips and gasped, "You…"

It was him. He was lying there at the moment just staring upwards…he didn't appear to be in any pain. That was until he tried to get up.

"Oh man…geez…" he began, as he lifted his body into a sitting position. "What did I ever do to you?" he asked.

Then as if remembering something, he held his hand up to stop whatever I was about to say next and requested, "Don't answer that."

He now sat on the ground rubbing the bottom of his spinal cord.

"Damn it…it seems I would have been better off staying back there…your attacks are worse then their's." he said, almost playfully.

But I wasn't about to rejoice. I had just hurt him…after I had spent many hours healing him last night. It wasn't right to feel good when you had just inflicted pain on another. No matter who or what they were.

I knelt down beside him, keeping my distance and stared at the ground.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

He was silent for a moment but then I heard a faint laugh escape his lips.

"Hey don't worry about it…it's nothing really." He replied, as he began to rise.

I looked up and said, "Let me heal you…I caused you this pain…let me help." I pleaded.

He gazed down at me…staring at me, as if wondering why in Spira I would want to help him at all. He seemed to cave in however and sighed, "If I let you heal me, will you leave me be for the rest of the way?"

I nodded but then gave him a questioning look at his last words, "The rest of the way?"

He nodded and stared off at the path ahead, "Sure…I mean a guardian's gotta keep his summoner safe right?"

He turned back to me with a soft expression on his features.

I nodded in agreement and then rose up to stand in front of him. I noticed then for the first time how tall he was. He was about 5,9, which was about six inches taller then myself. His features reminded me of someone, but I couldn't quite place him.

Suddenly I realised that I was staring, so I quickly looked away and went around to his back.

"Where does it hurt?" I asked as I placed my palms on his back and waited for him to tell me whereabouts I should place my hands.

"A little lower…" he instructed. I obeyed and went a little lower, "No that's not it…down near the end of my spine…" he instructed once more…I was beginning to think that maybe he was playing with me…but then I didn't think that he would be like that.

After many directions of where my hands should be he sighed in frustration and moved his left hand behind his back down to find my own. I was a little shocked at this and felt my fingers jolt at his touch.

I think he noticed too as he said, "Hey don't worry…I'm not some perverted male." He reassured.

I wasn't thinking of him in that way…but I didn't bother to say anything back. I just watched as he directed one of my hands with his own down to a spot right above his behind. Not too close though.

He then waited a few seconds before releasing his grip on me and returning his hand to his side. It was then that I set to work and knew that like last time that I would probably pass out.

Well maybe this time would be different…because the damage was not so great. But even so, I was still new to this magic.

Luckily last time I had fallen on the side of the bed…my head had landed on something soft. But thankfully I had woken up before he had.

I could now feel the power flowing through my fingertips into his skin. It felt strange…like a part of me was flowing into him. I had never done this before last night. I guess he was like my dummy in a way. I had never performed the curaga spell on anyone as yet until him and myself. And it was very powerful. I guess I had used a lot of energy healing my own back…and then to have to heal his entire body…it was so draining.

Once I had finished I felt my head spin and it felt as though my body would fall to the ground any minute. But I was going to remain strong. I still had to mend his hands. So shakily I…unintentionally rested a hand on his right arm, as I struggled to keep my balance. He must have noticed because he reached out to hold onto my shoulders to try and steady me.

"Hey are you okay?" his voice asked…and for the first time it sounded concerned. But I wasn't taking too much notice of anything at the moment.

"Give me your hands." I breathed heavily, as I reached out to pull them towards me.

I felt so strange…I'll be fine in a minute. But I wasn't quite sure on that…because last night I had fallen straight to sleep…I didn't know what would happen now.

After covering his hands with my own…(well I tried to anyway…seeing as his were naturally larger then my own.) I once again forced my body to concentrate and focus on the task at hand.

I felt my chest rising and falling with each breath, as I struggled to keep myself from fainting before I completed the task.

Only a little longer and then…

"Ow…my head." I murmured as I struggled to sit up.

It was then that I felt my head resting against something warm. I fluttered my eyes open and tried to make out where I was and what I was currently lying on.

"So you're awake?" came a familiar voice.

My eyes widened and I immediately sat up to face him.

"I…uh…I'm sorry." I mumbled, still a little sleepy and confused.

He gave me a weird look and stated, "For what? You already apologised for attacking me…which was unnecessary anyway seeing as I was the one sneaking up on you…other then that…I don't know what you have to be sorry for."

I looked down to see that my legs were lying on top of his and my upper body must have been resting against his chest.

"Why do you always apologise anyway?" he asked, as I looked up to see him scratch the back of his head.

I stared at his hair and noticed how beautiful it looked in the rays of sunlight peeking through the treetops. I was sort of mesmerized by it in a way. I answered with my eyes still fixed on the golden tresses.

"I…uh…well…" I trailed off, not being able to give him a real answer.

There was silence for a while and I was thankful that he didn't pursue the subject any further.

"So why were you following me anyway?" I asked breaking the aura of peace around us.

"Well believe it or not, I didn't exactly wanna stay with those Yevon advocates a second longer." He answered.

I moved my eyes down to face him with a questioning look evident upon my features, "Yevon advocates?" I repeated quietly.

He seemed like he was about to say something, but stopped as soon as he parted his lips. He stared at me and replied, "Yeah well…you know what I mean…I don't exactly agree with the teachings as you may have noticed while I was in that cell."

It was then that I lifted my body from his and stared around at the area on the side of the road that we had rested on… and then turned my back to him.

"You do realise that this journey will require me to enter temples all over Spira, which hold within them the teachings of Yevon?" I informed him, knowing that he knew this anyway.

I heard him rising up from the ground, as his boots nosily scraped along the rocks and grains of dirt. I could feel him standing behind me…but I remained where I was, waiting for him to answer.

"I know this…but as a guardian I have to do what is required for the job." He replied.

It was then that I turned to face him on one side and said, "Why is it that you suddenly have a different attitude towards this subject? I recall you saying no less then two days ago that…that summoners were useless."

When I saw the look of guilt cross his face, I instantly regretted what I had just said. I hadn't meant to make him feel bad.

"Oh I'm sorry…I didn't meant to…you don't have to answer." I rushed out, trying to make sense of what I was trying to say.

He however held out his hand and replied, "No no, it's okay…I guess…well I was under the influence of something. I know that's a pretty lame excuse…but yeah…I'm not usually like that. I guess…I'm sorry if I said anything else that may have offended you." He said quietly, as he gave me a look of sincerity, before brushing past me and stopping in front of the road ahead. He stood there for a while, not doing anything.

"I'm not good at apologies either." He stated calmly after a while.

"I'm hoping that's because you've never had anything to be sorry for." I commented as I began to walk towards him from behind.

"Yeah…maybe…" he trailed off. I knew that he was thinking of something…and I wondered if my statement had reminded him of his supposed crime.

Maybe it was something else.

"So how are we getting there?" he asked turning around slowly to face me again.

"Huh?" I asked…confused for a minute.

He stared at me with a slightly weird look on his face as if to say, 'what's up with you?'

"To Besaid…how are we getting there?" he asked more specifically.

I jumped slightly as I realized what he was talking about and said quickly, "Oh…oh…um…well I hadn't planned on leaving so soon. I thought that I would have more time to make arrangements of transportation…but now I'm not so sure."

I looked around as if hoping to figure out the solution to this minor problem. I mean we could always walk…but that would take at least a week to reach Besaid…most likely longer. I didn't have time for that…I needed to get back there now.

I sensed that he was watching me, so when I hesitantly moved my eyes over to him I saw that he was in fact staring at me.

He was staring at me in a way that I only ever remember two people doing in all my life…and that was when I last saw my mother and father in the Farplane at Guadosalam. They had gazed at me for the first time in person since I was a child and had told me that I had grown into a beautiful woman. But I still felt young on the inside.

But I couldn't figure out why he was giving me that same look. I didn't know him and I was sure he didn't know me.

After a moment he seemed to snap out of it and said, "All right then…follow me."

I watched him start walking down the path as I just stood there.

"It helps if you follow." He called back.

I jumped a little and quickly ran up behind him and slowed down. All the while I was thinking.

Why am I not afraid? He could very well be Maester Seymour's killer. And yet I am so comfortable around him. No…I doubt he had anything to do with the killing…I had been in his arms twice and not once had he done anything to me. Still…it wouldn't hurt to take precautions. That means no more fainting. Easier said then done.

"Where are we going?" I asked, as I stared up into the trees above. The leaves were fluttering so peacefully.

"Someplace…secret." He answered quietly.

A/N: Hey everyone. I hope that you like this story so far. I love writing it. It's my favourite pastime at the moment. So yeah if you want to (YOU BETTER) review me. Nah jokes. Till next time…which will be very soon. Byes.

Yunie Tidus