Tidus and Yuna were the first to depart as the groups went their separate ways. Boarding Yuna's airship, The Celsius, Tidus found himself quickly remembered by Brother, Rikku's brother.
"You!" He stated, loudly. His hulking figure looming over Tidus, arms crossed, and a bewildered look etched across his face.
Tidus, nervously, scratched the back of his neck, while Yuna looked on in humor at him.
"Yeah," Tidus replied, "It's been awhile, huh?" Tidus wasn't sure how the, usually quiet, guy would react and it seemed for awhile he didn't until he reached over and took Tidus into a rib-breaking hug.
"Good to see you, friend Tidus!"
Tidus couldn't breathe and air escaped his lips in a rugged gasp.
"Brother, let him down, now." Yuna said, her smile still ever present.
Brother let Tidus go and Tidus clung to the side of the ship, gasping for air.
"Are we to be off, then?" Brother asked Yuna.
Yuna nodded and helped Tidus up as Brother went back to the pilot's chair. Within seconds, the ship was off and hurtling at a fantastic speed.
Yuna showed Tidus around and introduced him to Shinra and Buddy.
Soon, the two of them retired to the bar where Yuna introduced him to the bar-keeper.
"Lady Yoo-na, How nice to see you found your guuy." Said the happy Shoopa. He soon excused himself as he went to restock some items, leaving Tidus and Yuna alone.
"Interesting group of people." Tidus remarked.
"Same could be said of you, you know." Yuna said, smiling, again. "That Marv character seems quite the handful."
Tidus laughed, "You don't know the half of it."
Yuna then became very quiet, very thoughtful.
"Yuna?" Tidus asked, worried about her sudden change of mood.
Yuna sighed as she stirred absentmindedly the drink she had been given.
"You seem to have had quite the experience since you came back." She looked at Tidus with thoughtful, expressive, eyes. "Tidus…Why didn't you try to find me when you came back?"
The question Tidus had been dreading was now in front of him. Swallowing, looking down, and then sighing; Tidus looked back to Yuna and gave a shrug and a soft smile.
"Everyone's been telling me of your adventures and how you've changed so dramatically. You seem to be happier now then you were as a Summoner. I guess I was unsure as to what my place was in your life, now that I have returned." Tidus put his hand on Yuna's and squeezed it. "I know you've spent a long time seeking me out since what happened, for which I am eternally grateful." Tidus sighed and looked down at the counter of the bar. "I don't know why I'm here, Yuna. I know why I was sent to Spira the first time, but now…"
Yuna's hand now came onto Tidus' and she took it, holding it in both her hands. She waited until he looked at her before speaking.
"I'm the reason you're back." She then smiled and began telling Tidus about what had occurred after her, Rikku, and Paine's battle with Shuyin and Vegnagun, when the Fayt appeared to her and had asked her if she would like to see Tidus, again.
"I was so disappointed when nothing happened after I accepted their offer. But, you see, Tidus? Your being here is because they DID grant me my request."
Tidus' mind went into a flurry of thinking as he processed, slowly, what Yuna had said and incorporated it with all the dire thinking he had done prior.
So, this was the truth, then. He was here because Yuna made it possible. She had made a wish and it was granted. He wasn't here for a short time period, right?
"Did…did the Fayt say for how long, though?"
Yuna smiled and reached forward and embraced Tidus in a warm hug.
"I don't know, for certain. But for right now, I'm confident that it's going to be for a long time."
Tidus took a deep sigh and returned the embrace Yuna was giving him with equal warmth. This was all that he needed. He could fixate on this problem later, but for now he was happy to be in the company of the one person he truly loved.
Brother announced, loudly, that they had finally reached their destination and soon, in plain view, the shores of Besaid came beneath the underbelly of The Celsius. Walking down the rampart, together, Tidus and Yuna stepped onto the sandy shores and continued on into the jungled area. Besaid Village also came quickly into view and soon their presence was announced to the village.
"Lady Yuna has returned!" One of the villagers announced, loudly. It was followed by an abrupt commotion as people came out of their huts to greet the ex-Summoner. They all, however, stopped in their tracks as they witnessed who she was with. Soon, whispering broke out.
"Can it be?"
"Is it really him?"
"But, he's dead?"
"The-the Guardian has returned!"
All of these and more were whispered, muttered, and then a voice broke out loudly.
"It's you!"
Tidus looked as a familiar figure came charging up the embankment toward them and scooped up Tidus in a fierce hug, spinning him around.
Tidus, concealing his amusement, looked down at the spiky red haired, tanned, man whose face was lit absolute joyfulness.
"Little brother! You're back!"
Wakka set Tidus down, his hands on Tidus' shoulders, looking at him up and down.
"Great to see you again, Wakka." Tidus said, grinning.
Wakka turned to Yuna, "You did it, Yuna, didn't cha?
Yuna put her hands behind her back and pivoted on one foot. "Well, yeah. Told you I'd find a way."
This time, Wakka took the both of them into a massive hug all together.
"Aw, praise be. Lulu will be shocked."
As soon as he let them go, Wakka took Tidus by the shoulder and led him down to his and Lulu's hut, talking at great lengths about what Tidus had missed, from Wakka and Lulu finally getting together to their new-born son.
As soon as they had arrived inside, a warm smile greeted them from a chair holding in her arms, wrapped in a blanket, a cooing baby-sound. Lulu looked warmly to Tidus and Yuna.
"Lulu, look what I've found!" Wakka said, happily as he heartidly slapped Tidus on the back, forward, up to Lulu.
"Yes, Wakka. I could hear your excitement all the way down here. Welcome back, Tidus."
Tidus smiled and nodded. "It's good to be back."
Wakka ushered for both Yuna and Tidus to sit on the pillows on the floor. "Sit, sit, tell us everything, don'tcha know."
So they sat and so they both told Wakka and Lulu of their recent journeys and how they came to find eachother, again. Both Wakka and Lulu listened with great intent and only Wakka interrupted every now and then with questions.
"So, what's it like on the other side, ya?" Wakka asked.
Tidus sighed, "It's nice, I guess. I got to see my father Jecht, Auron, and my mother. But lately it's been kind of been hazy. I don't remember quite well of that experience."
Wakka and Lulu nodded. Yuna, however, looked a little predisposed in thought.
"So what brings you to Besaid, other than to see familiar faces?" Lulu asked.
Tidus and Yuna then told them about what happened at Mushroom Rock, about Lord Dedlock, and the threat of Yu Yevon reemerging.
At the mention of the name, both Wakka and Lulu stared wide-eyed at the pair of them, looking for someone to admit that the other was just joking. Neither Tidus nor Yuna recounted, though.
"But, but we beat him, ya? How could he-?" Wakka stuttered.
Lulu interrupted him, "How is it possible?"
Tidus sighed and told them about the Three Artifacts of Yu Yevon and about how, according to myth, their being put back together could bring Yu Yevon back from the dead.
"So you think these "Artifacts" are here on Besaid?" Lulu asked.
Tidus shrugged, "It's one of many places where it could be. The problem is, no one knows where Yu Yevon put these things, so they could be anywhere."
Lulu sighed and looked down to her son and then to Wakka. "Help them."
It felt like old times, the three of them going on a journey; Tidus smiled to himself as they walked down the road to the far shores and then cut across into the jungle itself. They then cut across the tops of the tress as they hopped up onto an embankment and then onto the trees themselves.
"Where are we going exactly?" Tidus asked, not being familiar in the direction unto which they were headed.
Yuna smiled, "We're going to a secret place where Rikku, Paine, and I had found a sphere. I have a feeling there might be more hidden there."
Tidus shook his head in amazement. Remembering, vividly, of a young girl so timid, so unsure of herself and her abilities, now to see her fully grown into a confident, strong, person.
They trekked for a little ways more until they finally hopped off and landed on the soft shore. Walking up a ways further, they came to a dilapidated stone-like structure.
"This is the place." Yuna announced.
Tidus suddenly gripped her shoulder, stopping her from proceeding further and Wakka stopped on his own as both he and Tidus, and eventually Yuna, noticed a ghostly shadow come out of nowhere and suddenly slid right through into the open crevice of the structure.
"What on Spira was that?" Wakka exclaimed, quickly clutching to his Blitzball in sheer anticipation of a sudden attack.
"An unsent." Tidus replied. "I think you're right." He said to Yuna. "I think we're in the right area."
The three of them proceeded forward and inside, the light soon became diminished and Tidus was forced to bring out his firelight device for them to be able to see.
Yuna brought out her glowing sphere and soon the entire inside structure was illuminated. Tidus marveled at the inside, feeling awe-inspired as the place was vast and massive, much to the deceivement from outside.
They crept their way alongside the wall, taking careful notice not to make their presence known to whatever was scurrying about. Unfortunately, the dust was getting to Wakka, and he soon erupted in a violent sneeze.
"Wha-Choo!!!" He wiped his nose and looked apologetically to Tidus and Yuna.
A loud grumbling sound was heard far ahead, causing Tidus to bring out his sword and for Yuna to bring out her twin pistols. The ventured further on until they saw a light come from a hole in the wall.
"That wasn't there before." Yuna said in a hushed tone.
Tidus nodded and crept along further, careful not to do anything that would add to the noise that they've already created. As soon as they were getting closer ahead, Tidus cloud swear that he could hear the sound of clicking and grunting. It soon came all into focus as they entered a large chamber where, to their surprise a huge scorpion-like creature with twin tails seemed to be sniffing around the area.
It's huge pincers clacked as it roamed around, it's knife-like feet clicking against the stone surface.
Wakka whispered to the others, "So, what's the plan, ya?"
Tidus took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He knew that this was going to get ugly, no matter what approach they took. Opening his eyes, he held out his hand and yelled, "Fira!"
The Spell hit the monster, which rocked it, but, unfortunately, caused a greenish glow around it which meant that it absorbed fire spells.
The creature, feeling the impact of the spell, shrieked in alarm, as it was now fully aware that it was being threatened. It turned on the spot, and charged at the three.
Tidus, Yuna, and Wakka all dived out of the way as the beast came at them; it's twin-tails striking in multiple directions.
Yuna rolled on the ground and came back up into a crouching position as she fired off multiple rounds at the beast which seemed to do some damage as it winced and then put it's pincers in front of itself to avoid anymore damage.
Wakka, getting back up on his feet, slung his ball at the creature only to have it knocked away by its tails. Wakka retrieved his ball and dived out of the way again as the tails struck the position in which he was.
Tidus charged forward and began hacking, slicing, and gouging any area he could find, all the while trying to avoiding the pincers as they attacked his head, torso, and legs. Yuna quickly joined his as she, to Tidus' surprise, became engulfed in light. Her body seemed to peel away like the rind off of an orange. When the light subsided she was now dressed in a black, metallic, armor. She wielded a sword and jumped in the air. When she came back down, she struck at the floor causing the whole chamber to vibrate and a light to come whooshing up off the ground and strike the monster.
The monster roared out in pain and began turning at a fast pace knocking all three of them down to the ground numerous times.
Tidus felt his teeth chatter and his body ache incredibly as he finally found rest against the floor, albeit violent and suddenly.
Wakka through his Blitzball once again and this time was successful in hitting the creature between his eight eyes. Yuna administered a healing remedy to Tidus and then preformed his same exact routine of jumping and performing "darkness" on the creature.
The creature managed to grab Tidus' leg and hoisted him up and into the air. Being upside down, Tidus frantically swung his body to avoid the poisonous barbed tails from striking him, and then he immediately changed tactics and began trying to strike the tails as he was avoiding them. Meanwhile, Yuna had reverted back to her Gunner-form and both she and Wakka struck and shot endlessly at the creature to have it let go of Tidus.
Then, because of a miscalculated move on Tidus' part, he swung his sword a bit too late and the poisonous barb shot through the air and the stinger went right through Tidus' dangling leg.
Tidus cried out in pain and agony. Clenching his teeth in both pain and anger, Tidus grabbed the hilt of his sword with both hands and swung hard, upward, at the barb and stinger. The sword went right through, and the creature seemed to mimic Tidus' earlier cry as it made its own. It finally released its hold on him, having him fall aimlessly to the ground. The creature began to begin its twirling attack, when Wakka attacked it again, only this time with an ice-ball. His attack was successful as when the ball struck and then bounced off of the creature, it freezed it completely and then it shattered. Hundreds upon hundreds of pyrflies shot out from the shattered form and came shooting out of the chamber, seeking out the sky to return to the Farplane.
"Tidus!"
Yuna came running to him, Tidus still lay on the ground, rolling back in forth in agony of the torment is leg was experiencing.
Both Yuna and Wakka administered a healing and ensuna remedy, which took its calming effect on Tidus very quickly.
Tidus was soon ready to get up off his feet and the two of them helped him up.
"You better be careful, ya?" Wakka said, pointedly.
Tidus sighed and nodded, leaning his weight against Wakka until he could finally feel his leg again. Once that happened, the three of them began searching the room for whatever the creature was looking for previously.
Mainly, the room was filled with broken urns and dusty, decomposing, books. Tidus was beginning to feel that maybe it was a mistake on their part to believe this fiend was actually after something in here, when Yuna called both of them over to a secret chest that had been concealed underneath a stack of books. Upon opening the chest, a bright light shot out and all three of them shielded their eyes until the light subsided.
Glancing down into the chest, they found what looked like the broken off mouth of some sort of object, it looked utterly inconceivable, and practically worthless. The biggest thing that set it apart was that this one was shining brightly gold and was glowing.
"Whoa…" Wakka said in wonder, "Is…is this what you guys are looking for?"
Tidus wasn't certain, as he was sure Yuna wasn't. Taking the object in his hand, he examined it, turning it slowly around until he saw something. Half of a large eye was sectioned from the jagged bottom. Above the "half-eye" was the word "Yevon".
Tidus sighed, "Yeah, this is part of it."
"What is it?" Yuna asked, taking the object into her own hands and turning it over.
Tidus shrugged, "I haven't the faintest clue."
Both Tidus and Yuna accepted Wakka's insistency to stay the night in Besaid before continuing on to Kilika Island.
The sunset over the horizon gave a peaceful, warm, glow that set itself over the entire village. Tidus felt peaceful and welcomed by it.
Tidus and Yuna walked around the village and into the Besaid temple. Yuna led the way inside and soon Tidus was re-familiarized with statues of the former Summoners that anodized the circular entranceway. Yuna walked away from Tidus and went up to the statue of her father, Lord Braska. She gently brushed her hand across the face of the statue's cheek surface, sighing deeply.
"It feels so long ago, doesn't it?"
Tidus wasn't sure if she was talking to him or the statue of her father.
Yuna turned away from the statue and walked towards the steps to the chamber itself. She stopped and turned towards Tidus.
Tidus walked towards her and took her hand.
Yuna, then, without saying anything, led the two of them inside the chamber doors and through the maze-like corridor to the lift that took them down to the floor and to the entrance of the chamber itself. The door of the chamber was wide open and inside was a dark and empty room. Yuna left Tidus and walked towards the entrance, placing her hand against the frame of the doorway, looking inside. She took a moment then turned to Tidus.
"We first met here, remember?"
Tidus smiled and nodded. He walked to her, again.
"How could I forget?"
Yuna smiled too. She turned her gaze back toward the empty chamber.
"It feels like a whole different life. One that was lived by someone other then me, now. It feels silly, looking back on it now. All that work just to give in, give up, follow the footsteps of those before me and to die willingly." She turned away and came back to Tidus, she took both of his hands into her own.
"If it weren't for you, Tidus, I would cease to exist."
"Likewise." Tidus smiled.
Yuna put her hand around the back of Tidus' neck, her eyes, both green and blue, looking deeply into his own. She then drew him in and kissed him tenderly on the lips. Tidus put his hands around Yuna's waist and brought her closer to him, her hands then put themselves on the sides of his face.
Tidus never wanted to leave this place. Forget the journey, forget the horrors that there were soon to be endured by the both of them. Right now, in this time and space, Tidus just felt content to be by the very woman that he loved so dearly and for nothing to stand in the way of this very moment. How could the Fayt bring him back just to endure the hardships of the evil that's in this world? Why not bring him back for the love of this woman and to live a life of peace?
All these struggling questions, and tempered yearnings, came into his mind and wound themselves up like a ball of yarn.
Yuna's warmth, her love, all of who she is was just the thing Tidus needed as of right now to temporarily forget his place in the setting of the frightful time that was going to take place, very soon.
The two remained in their loving embrace until the late hours drew near.
To be continued…
A/N: Sorry for the long overdue return, guys. I don't want to bore you with my explanation, but suffice it to say I'm back. The continuing chapters won't come up as frequent as before as I am committed to finish other stories I've left off as well as this one. But, be patient and you shall be rewarded.
Q-n-P