We went through a tunnel and arrived at the base of the mountain. It was freezing. The area was empty and we all took a look around until Biran jumped out of nowhere and Yenke followed with Maester Klek.
"Summoner Yuna and guardians, leave here at once!" Klek shouted. We were surrounded by Ronso. "Gagazet is Ronso land, sacred mountain of Yevon. The mountain will not bear the footsteps of infidels!"
"Enemy of Yevon is enemy of Ronso! Leave traitors!" Biran shouted.
"I have cast aside Yevon! I follow the temple no more!" Yuna shouted back at him.
"Then you will die by those words," Klek bellowed.
"So be it. Yevon has warped the teachings and betrayed us all!" Yuna continued, she stood tall as she spoke to him and we were all at her side.
"Nothing but a bunch of low-down tricksters, eh?" Wakka shouted.
"Yeah!"
"We have no regrets," Yuna said. I couldn't see her but I could tell that she was smiling at our support.
"Blasphemers!" Yenke shouted. He tried to rush us and attack Yuna but Kimahri stopped him dead in his tracks. He was so much shorter than them, but he still stood to protect us. I think Kimahri was the most dedicated of us all.
"A Summoner and her guardians…" Klek said still looking down on us.
"Lord Klek Ronso, if I may," Lulu said stepping forward. "Have you not also turned your back on Bevelle?"
"But still you guard Gagazet as a Ronso, not a Maester. Yuna is much the same," Auron added.
"Elder Klek let Biran rend them asunder!" Biran shouted as Yenke came to his side.
"No escape, not one!"
"No, we will not flee. We will fight and continue on," Yuna said firmly.
"You have been branded a traitor, but still you would fight Sin? Lost to the temple, hated by the people, yet you continue your pilgrimage? Everything lost! What do you fight for?" Klek asked, he looked more hopeless than any of us.
"I fight for Spira. The people long for the calm. I can give it to them. It's all I can give. Defeating Sin, ending pain… this I can do."
"Even sacrificing yourself? Ronso let them pass! Summoner Yuna, your will is stronger than steel. Tempered steel that even the mightiest Ronso could not hope to bend. Yuna, we bow to your will! Now Go! The sacred heights of Gagazet welcome you."
"We thank you," Yuna said with a bow.
"Ah! My necks hurtn'." Wakka complained as we looked up to the peak of mount Gagazet, I tried to ignore him.
"Zanarkand is on the other side, huh?" I said trying to look beyond the mountain.
"Yeah… your home, ya?" he asked standing uncomfortably close.
"As if you believed me…"
"Maybe I do. The one on the other side here's probably just a pile of rubble, ya? But somewhere out there is your Zanarkand. Some where ya? Yeah, you'll be home soon enough!" he said patting me on the back reassuringly.
"I… hope you're right."
"Yeah! Cheer up! Let's do this!" Wakka's words, they helped a lot. I wasn't worried about seeing their Zanarkand anymore. As we continued on Rikku and I hung back to talk.
"You think of anything yet?" she asked softly. I couldn't tell her that I had nothing.
"Biran and Yenke gone," Kimahri said with a frown.
"I wonder what they're up to. Eh! It's probably nothing."
"Biran is hero of Ronso. Yenke is powerful warrior."
"Great, I hope we don't have to fight them." I was starting to get tired of everyone trying to challenge us.
"Kimahri must fight! Kimahri must win!"
"It's as I thought," Auron said stopping in the road.
"What is?"
"Yevon is in turmoil. Mika tries to keep it whole, but it crumbles around him," he continued somberly.
"Look, I couldn't care less what happens to Yevon."
"Because you are not of this world, to those who truly believe in the teachings a time of much pain is coming."
"It's just a little farther now," Yuna said as we headed up toward the mountain trail, I wasn't sure weather she was talking about getting to Zanarkand or to the time of pain.
At the top of the small slope Biran jumped out in front of us.
"Halt!"
"Uhg! Haven't you bothered us enough?"
"Summoner may pass, guardians may pass. Kimahri not pass! Kimahri shame Ronso brothers. Kimahri forgotten his birth," Yenke said standing right in front of Kimahri.
"Forget his people, forget his mountain. Little Ronso! Weakling Ronso! Mountain hate the weak, hate the small, if you will climb," Kimahri cut Biran off.
"Then I must prove my strength!"
"Think you will win? You not forget who took your horn, never forget!" Biran yelled at his side.
"Kimahri never beat brother Biran! Never win!" Yenke goaded.
"This time I win. I will win!" I moved to help him but Kimahri knocked me back.
"This some kind of Ronso thing?" I asked, I know I was frowning at him.
"Kimahri problem."
"Biran rend you asunder," It was like that's all he could say.
"Hornless, hornless," Yenke goaded. Kimahri lunged forward and had knocked them senseless with only a few strokes of his spear. "You win," Yenke panted. I personally thought that Kimahri should have given them a little bit more of a beating.
"Strong is Kimahri. Biran is happy. Sacred Mount Gagazet! I honor the name of strong warrior who defeats Biran. Remember always, Gagazet! That name is Kimahri."
"Mountain knows Kimahri strong, Kimahri may pass," Yenke added.
"Summoner! We Ronso will stop pursuers from temple," Biran said with a grin.
"Truly?" Yuna smiled.
"Penance for breaking Kimahri's horn long ago."
"We crush enemies following behind, Kimahri crush enemies standing before. You are most fortunate summoner." Yenke said with a more frightening grin than Biran's.
"I thank you," Yuna said with a little bow.
"Ronso will shine your statue brightest."
"Thank you, But I fear that no one will make a statue for a traitor such as I am."
"Then Ronso will make! With grand horn on head." Biran and Yenke both nodded proudly at the idea. I wanted to see Yuna's statue too. But I wanted to see it… with Yuna by my side.
When we reached the top of the Ronso's village Biran stopped us again.
"Summoner Yuna!"
"What is it this time?" I was getting ready to reach for my sword. All of the Ronso stood before Yuna and began to sing. That damn song… I was starting to hate it.
"ie yui nobou me no reen midi yojyu yo go. Asate kara e kuta maa e."
All of the elders joined in their song, it was beautiful and sad.
After that Kimahri seemed prouder than I'd ever seen him and Yuna was doing her best to appear strong. I was wondering how long it would be before she broke. We climbed up for a long time, through the icy paths up to the side of the mountain. We were all tires, especially Yuna, the more she put up a strong brave front, the more tired she got.
"Sir Auron… can we rest soon?" Yuna said softly.
"Yes, if you need it." Ever since Makalenia whenever Yuna said she was tired Auron would give me a look up from his sun glasses. It was a constant reminder that Yuna and I had been together. That and—
"Tidus… when we find a place to stay, can we… talk?" Talk, great, as long as that's all we're doing.
"Sure," I said. Wakka, who had disappeared behind a corner, came back.
"Shelter over here, ya?"
"Alright! I'm freezing! It was never this cold at home, you know?" Rikku said running up past me and around the corner. We got under the edge of the mountain and set up tents, everything was set up close together; the only people who weren't shivering were Kimahri and Auron. We were camped near a crack in the mountain; it was large enough for a person to fit through. Rikku noticed it right away.
"I can feel warm air! I'm gonna go look around, maybe I'll find some place warmer, you know?"
"Okay, but don't be gone too long."
"Roger!" She said with a big grin.
I looked over at Wakka and Lulu huddled close together and u felt a twinge of jealousy. But then, things had been less complicated with Wakka lately. Maybe we were better off this way. I couldn't help but smile when I thought about what Wakka said about Yevon, 'low down tricksters' I couldn't help but smile.
"Tidus," Yuna said, catching me off guard.
"Oh, yeah what is it? There was something you wanted to talk about Yuna?"
"Yes, come here." She grabbed my hand and pulled me off to the side, as far away from the group as possible without reaching the edge of the shelter.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"Well…" she started blushing, it wasn't a good sign. She sat down with me against the mountain and snuggled up into my side. She looked up at me with those big blue and green eyes, and I didn't know what I was supposed to think. "I'm glad, that you're here with me." She sighed and relaxed against me, it only made me tense up more.
"Thanks…"
"I just, I wish I had more time with everyone. With you." I wrapped my arm around her.
"It's okay, we'll figure something out. I promised I wouldn't let you die, and it's a promise I plan on keeping."
"Thank you." She says so many thank you's and pleases it kind of made me wonder what it's all worth.
"Um…"
"Tidus."
"Yeah?"
"Can we… can I kiss you… I mean, you wouldn't mind, would you?" she sounded so hopeful, how could I say no to that? I kissed her gently, she wrapped her arms around me and kept the kiss going… for a long time. I could feel everyone's eyes on us, but it really didn't matter anymore, did it? We got warm together, after awhile, and she still didn't pull away. I was pinned between her and a mountain. I felt Gagazet watching me too.
"Oi…" Thank god Wakka interrupted us. I didn't need Yuna getting anymore emotionally invested in me. "You two… uh know where Rikku went? I haven't seen her for awhile, ya?" He seemed really nervous, he was blushing and everything. I wonder what he was so embarrassed about.
"I'll go look for her!" I got up and ran for the crack in the mountain. It was warm inside, I followed the current of air and it got hotter and hotter. It felt like a locker room at halftime. "Rikku! Rikku!" It was humid as hell. I stripped off the top of my uniform, and dropped it on the floor. I heard the sound of rushing water and moved toward it. "Rikku!" I still didn't get a response. I followed the sound of the water until I hit a big hot spring. No wonder it's so hot in here. I saw the pile of clothing by the edge, little black shoes, long white socks, short green shorts, a pink top and a pair of goggles all sat next to her Devastator claws and arm guard. "Rikku!!" the moving stopped.
"Tidy?"
"Rikku, what are you doing here?"
"Bathing, it's wonderful, ya know? Wanna join me?"
"Yeah!" I noticed a bright yellow bra and a pair of panties. "But maybe it's not the best idea."
"Relax Tidy! Get your Blitz'n butt in here already!" I shrugged, it could be fun. I stripped completely and jumped into the water. It was wonderful, especially after the cold of the snow. "See, isn't that better?"
"Yeah, it is nice," I said with a grin. She swam around me in circles, each time the light hit her slender frame she looked beautiful, my whole body awakened at the sight of her. I just stood there, hoping she wouldn't notice my gigantic boner.
"Tidy! What's the matter?" she stopped swimming and stood in front of me. The water was up to my chest, but on Rikku, even her chin was under water. She had to tread water just to stay in one place and speak to me.
"I… nothings wrong?"
"Yes there us! I can tell, you're pouting, you know?"
"Well… I don't know… everything is 'normal' with Wakka… which is good, and kind of sad." I started waving my arms back and forth in the water, staring down at it instead of her face so that I didn't get anymore embarrassed.
"And…"
"And Yuna…"
"Oh," she shifted back to floating on her back in front of me, leaving her slender little legs, pink round little breasts and a small patch of golden hair between her legs in plain sight. It was all I could do not to stare.
"She keeps…"
"Loving you?"
"Well yeah. I mean, I knew she loved me… but it's hard to be her strength when she always tries to play this hard as a rock thing, you know?" I paused; I realized that Rikku was rubbing off on me. She just giggled and paddled out a little, allowing me a nice view of the pink spread between her legs. I really hoped she wouldn't look under water. "But… she's all clingy, like I'm the only thing in the world that will make her happy. It's really… draining."
"I know what you mean, Yunnie's really great, but she's kind of a fun sucker, you know?"
"Not like you and Wakka…"
"Why thank you! And it's good to know that I'm right up there with the love of your life," she said sticking her tongue out at me and then diving under water for protection. I swam over and pulled her head out of the water as gently as I could.
"He's not—"
"Wow Tidy! That's quite a long-sword you've got there," she said with a giggle. "I was scared you would poke my eye out!" more giggling.
"Are you done now?" I was mortified.
"Not by a long shot!"
"Come on Rikku, you don't have to tease me."
"But it's fun! And besides, it's not like there's anything here that should have you that excited, you know?" I wanted to drop my head in the water and drown.
"Sure that is," I offered trying to tease her back though my embarrassment.
"Awe, you flatter me Tidy. If I didn't know any better I'd say you want me." I just smiled at her and shook my head. "Do you really?" Not at all the question I was expecting.
"I don't know… maybe… you wouldn't act all weird like Yuna or Wakka?"
"Not to worry Tidy, I'm not a repressed homosexual or an overly lonely and enthusiastic clingy girl."
"…you are enthusiastic…"
"What else am I?" Her questions threw me for a loop, somehow I was expecting her to be more innocent, but then, that's probably what Wakka thought of me too.
"You're really cute, I know that."
"Cute enough to give you a big stiffy?"
"I think you already know the answer to that." She giggled so much, it was heart warming. The cavern just filled with laughter, mixed with the heat, it was almost heaven, almost.
"Tidy," she said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Come here." I swam up closer to Rikku and scooped her into my arms, I had the uncontroalable urge to hold someone warm and loving, someone who made me feel like everything would be alright in the end, instead of someone who was constantly preparing for death. Rikku and Wakka were the only ones who made me feel like that, and Wakka was out of the picture. Way out. "Oh, Tidy," I could feel her snuggle into me, her soft breasts sending shivers down my spine as her nipples rubbed warm little circles against my chest. She wrapped her arms around me, her soft, flat stomach grazing up against my shaft.
"Ah! Rikku…" I was already tensing up, it felt so nice to be close to someone with out that heavy obligation to do it. I didn't have to be with Rikku I wanted to be with her.
She wrapped her legs around my waist and started kissing me furiously.
"Mmm Tidy," she slid her body up and down against me surprising and enticing me and then she pulled away. Rikku paddled back toward the edge of the spring, I nearly tackled her when I caught her.
"No fair!" I held on tight to her, my arms rested over her breasts as I rubbed my length against her butt, I could feel her shiver in my arms. I grabbed one of her pink little nipples and rubbed it mercilessly while I rubbed a calloused finger over her clit, still brushing myself against her butt, the way she moaned was irresistible. "No fair getting me all horny and then running away!"
"Ooh! Tidy! I want you in me so bad!" she moaned, I brushed my head against her opening, "ooh come on Tidy! No fair! You're driving me crazy, you know? Just fuck me already!"
"Nah, I don't think you want me bad enough," I said squeezing her breast and rubbing against her clit more roughly.
"Oooh No fair!" she wriggled out of my arms and swam back to the edge, climbing out and riffling through her clothing.
"Hey, wait!" I got out of the water as fast as I could to stop her. "You can't just leave!"
"Relax Tidy," she said giving me a kiss on the cheek as she picked up her pouch and removed a rather shiny blue vibrator. "I just wanted to get this, you know?" I looked at it for a long moment, almost forgetting how badly I'd wanted her. I had never seen anything like that in Spira before. Fun sex was probably against Yevon's teachings. She plopped back down near the edge of the water and a rock wall, spreading her legs apart. She rubbed between her legs, spreading slickness all over her soft pink and then picked up her toy and rubbed it along that slickness before slipping it in her behind.
"Whoa!" I would've been afraid to take something that large, it was almost as big as Wakka. Rikku flipped it off and turned beet red, the hum of the 'Machina' and the trembles of her body working in time. I licked my lips, my hand instinctively drifting down to stroke myself.
"Fuck me Tidy! I want you so bad, I feel like I'm gonna burn up, you know?" I didn't need another invitation. I scooped her legs into my arms, holding them under her knees. I leaned over and rammed into her, over and over. She was so slick, and hot inside, I could feel her body clenching around me and the vibrations of her toy against my balls, it was too much for me to take. I just kept thrusting faster and faster, I couldn't help it and Rikku certainly wasn't complaining, she was screaming my name with every thrust. Her body was flushed and glowing, she had her hands pressed against the wall for support.
"Tidy! Tidy! TIDY!" She screamed pushing back against my rough thrusts, I could feel her muscles clamp down on me and that was it. I exploded inside her, thrusting harder with every wave of pleasure, she squealed at the force of it, I came so hard it was spilling out of her. I had never needed release that badly before.
"OH Rikku!" I had to take a minute to catch my breath, then I slipped out of her, feeling our slick juices till hot along my shaft. I turned off her toy for her and tossed it to the side. We just lie there quietly, panting heavily and trying to catch our breaths.
"Wow that was amazing Tidy, I've never been fucked like that before, you know?" She panted with a big glowing smile. I nodded at the compliment, wrapping my arms around her.
"Thanks," I said nuzzling my nose into her neck, she smelled so good; I almost wanted to have her again.
"I mean… Wow now I know why everybody can't get enough of you. You're amazing, you know?" I kissed her neck tenderly and she snuggled into my arms like a tired little kitten. She yawned and then started humming.
"Are you, I mean… you don't regret…?"
"Of coarse not Tidy. That's the best I've ever had. And if you do stay in Spira, you could always be with me, you know?"
"I know," I leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. I could tell she had been avoiding it earlier, but it felt like the right thing to do. No, not just the right thing, I wanted to kiss her breathless.
"Mmm, I'm glad we found you in those ruins, you know?"
"Me too," I said before snuggling my nose back against her neck. We enjoyed just holding one another for a while longer, and then we got up and washed ourselves off in the spring water.
"I hope Kimahri doesn't find out what we did in 'sacred Mount Gagazet' he'd go crazy, you know?" she giggled a little. I brought over our clothes and we both got dressed.
"Really Rikku, thank you. You're always there for me when I need it. I'm really glad." I gave her another kiss; this one was long and blissful.
"No problem Tidy, what are friends for?" 'Not that' I thought. But I gave her one last long kiss and we started wandering our way back toward the crack.
As the air in the cave felt cooler and cooler, what Rikku and I had shared felt more like a dream. I just couldn't believe that so many people would love and want me; I guess maybe Wakka was right. I am a big heart breaker.
"I found her!" I shouted as we spotted the crack.
"Good, now hurry up and get out here! Everyone has been worried sick about you two, ya?" Wakka called back to us, he sounded a little stressed, or something. Rikku skipped her way into the cold, giggling all the way.
"Wakkie! I found a hot spring, it was wonderful!"
"Das nice, ya? Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself," when I caught a glimpse of Wakka's face, he didn't look as happy as he sounded.
"I'm going to go talk to Yunnie, okay?" she said with a big bright smile waving back at us. I was about to follow her, but Wakka grabbed a hold of my arm; he pulled me back and tossed me up against the rock face. Oddly enough Kimahri, Lulu, Auron and Yuna were far out of ear shot, along with Rikku now.
"W-what's up Wakka?" I said with a grin. He scowled at me so deeply I don't think I'd ever seen him so angry.
"You don't think about anybody else's feelings, ya?" I tried to step forward but he shoved me back.
"What are you—?"
"You'd just sleep with everybody, ya? Don even care about how dey feel, just do what you wand and then move on to the next one, ya?" He was so angry; I thought he was going to beat me.
"But—"
"You're just lucky I told everyone I'd stand guard for you. I could hear you from here, ya? What if Yuna heard you banging her cousin, she would be heart broken, ya?"
"… Could you… hear everything we said?"
"No, but da moaning spoke for itself. You just wanna have everything, ya? You don care about no one!"
"I cared about you," I said softly. I almost hoped he couldn't hear me, something passed over his face, but the expression was gone before I could pinpoint what it was. He was angrier than ever.
"Too bad for you, ya? I'm wit Lulu, and I'm not some slut sleepin' wit everyone like you." He wavered for a second; he could see the hot salty tears running down my cheeks. I tried to stop them, but I couldn't. This was Wakka and he… I could tell he hated me. He almost looked like he wanted to comfort me, but I probably imagined it.
"Well…" I sniffed back my tears as best I could. "I'm glad you're happy," and I meant it, but it just hurt so badly, I couldn't help being angry. "But I…"
"What?" His voice was so cold, colder than the ice on Gagazet, at first I didn't want to hurt him, but… after that it didn't matter. We weren't friends and he was judging me everything I did.
"I wish I had never washed up on Besaid! You're the worst thing that has ever happened to me!" I screamed my eyes were so clouded with tears that I didn't even see his fist coming. He hit me in the jaw, knocking me back hard against the jagged wall. I rushed forward and rammed him head first, hitting him square in the chest. I heard him groan as I hit him, I knocked him back into the snow. He jumped up and dived into me hitting me with a venom tackle, I was thrown back so hard, my head made a sickening crack against the wall. Everything went black; it was like the lights were out in my head.
"Enough!" I heard Auron bellow.
"Sir Auron, I—"
"You don't want to move!" from the sound of Auron's voice, I knew he didn't. "You think you can get away with attacking a fellow guardian?"
"No—but—" Wakka fumbled, we both knew there was nothing that he would explain.
"Wakka! What has gotten into you?" Lulu scolded.
"I'm sorry Tidus," he didn't sound sincere. "Tidus?"
"What?" I could hear Lulu gasping.
"Tidus are you alright?" I could feel something hot trickling down my neck and I knew then what she was so worried about.
"Yuna! Come quickly," Auron shouted. I could hear her footsteps as she rushed over.
"Sir Auron, what's—oh no! Tidus, what happened?" I felt ashamed; I didn't know what to tell her. 'I had sex with Rikku so he beat me up? Oh and by the way I fooled around with Wakka too and now he hates me?' If I told her that, she would hate me too.
"We just had an argument…" I finally said.
"All that blood over an argument?" Lulu said I could hear her frowning in her voice.
"Ya… I don know what I was thinking" Wakka added.
"I-I don't know how to heal this…" Yuna said in a whisper.
"What?" there was panic in Wakka's voice.
"It's not bleeding anymore, but…"
"I can't see," I finished Yuna's sentence.
"Well, it looks like it'll be your responsibility to look after him until his sight returns."
"Yes Sir Auron."
"Honestly Wakka, how could you do such a thing?" Lulu sounded really upset. I took pity in him, I guess.
"It's okay Lulu, it was my fault he lost his temper, I started it. The cold was getting to me, you know? I started talking to him about Zanarkand and… he got upset." I was sure that with the mention of Zanarkand everyone would ease up on him a bit, it sounded like I was right. I could feel Yuna giving me soft kisses on the cheek and I couldn't stop thinking about my 'dream' with Rikku.
"Will you be alright?" Yuna asked tenderly.
"I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me, okay?"
"Wakka, you big Meany! How could you—" I cut Rikku off before she could finish.
"Just drop it okay?" I could feel the air tense around me, but Rikku knew I would tell her everything anyway.
"Okay, I didn't mean to be any trouble, you know?"
"It's okay, ya?" I heard Wakka say, but I knew that it wasn't. Wakka wasn't really a violent man, 'he must really hate me,' I thought. I could hear everyone walking away. A strong hand gripped my shoulder.
"Lemme help you up, ya?"
"No thanks, I'm fine," I made an attempt to stand up, and teetered after getting halfway up, falling back into the powdery snow.
"Please, lemme help you, it's the least I can do, ya? I really am sorry." He lifted me up, even as I yelled at him not to. He carried me into the tent and stayed there. I could barely sleep knowing he was there made me feel awkward. I awoke in the night wrapped in those warn arms, or maybe I just dreamt it. In the morning he awoke me bright and early, and held my hand as we climbed up the mountain. It was ridicules, he was treating me like a child, and he guided me for days without saying a word, only the chill of the mountain and the warmth of his hand kept me company.