Chapter 11: Someplace Secret

Yuna's POV:

'Someplace secret?'

What did he mean by that?

A place where no one would hear my screams?

No…stop thinking like that…he isn't like that…he's different.

"You know…most people would have left me where I was…back in that room." He said out of the blue.

What was I to say to that?

"Uh…well most people prefer to believe what people with power tell them." I said, knowing that I was in fact perfectly correct. That was the way it had always been.

"Aren't you someone with power?" he asked curiously.

I looked towards the side of the road and noticed that we had entered Macalania…

"Well…you could say that…my father…he was the high summoner Lord Braska…most people expected that I would follow in his footsteps…and that is what my purpose in life has always been. I suppose that when your father is famous…it kind of gets passed down to you whether you like it or not." I answered truthfully.

I had never been asked a question like that before and I was surprised that I had been able to answer it so easily.

"They expected you to follow in his footsteps…didn't your father ever tell you to choose your own path? I mean I'm sure he would have wanted you to live life the way you wanted to." He said becoming really serious and sincere about the whole conversation.

I watched as his pace started to slow down…almost as if he was waiting for me to catch up to him so that we were side by side.

"I know that is what he probably would have wanted…but…this is what I want. To help the people of Spira…to rid it of Sin forever." I answered honestly, as I now came to walk on his right side.

I saw out of the corner of my eye that he was staring at me with…concern…or was it fear?

"Well…whatever you choose…I'll be with you all the way…okay?" he stated, causing me to stop in my tracks wondering what had caused his sudden attitude change.

Maybe he was telling the truth about him being influenced by something…that he wasn't usually like he had been in the cell…maybe this was who he was.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked, as he too had come to a stop to face me with his arms folded and his face tilted to the left.

Forcing a smile to appear on my lips I looked up and said, "No…you said the most meaningful words to me right then…thank you." I whispered the last two words.

I noticed that he seemed to become quite uncomfortable…but he was quick to change the subject and state that we were in fact already at the 'Secret place.'

"Now I know that I'm your guardian…but I have to leave you here just this once…I'll be back as soon as possible…I promise." He said as I watched him begin to jog through the opening on our left.

Then all of a sudden he stopped and turned back around heading towards me once again. He was now standing in front of me once more and said, "Um…you know how you said that time…to just whistle and you'll come running?"

I nodded and waited for him to go on.

"Well…if you're in any trouble…just whistle…I'll come running…I promise." He told me as he gave me one last meaningful look before running off through the entrance once more.

That's what I said to him in the cell that day.

It had been quite a while since he had left me. But I was actually not even worried. I was now sitting on the side of the path and it didn't even occur to me that he could have escaped and left me here all alone.

I watched as the sun shone through the treetops, telling me that it was almost mid-afternoon. My stomach was also telling me the same thing.

I placed my hand on it and rubbed it softly as if trying to calm it, so that it would know food was on the way.

Suddenly I heard a rustle behind me. I jumped a little and rose to my feet and waited for whatever it was to reveal itself to me.

After a few minutes of silence I saw a blonde, tanned figure emerge from the bushes in front of me.

He looked quite distressed.

"Are you all right?" I asked as I moved closer towards him.

He didn't seem to hear me so I said a little louder, "Hey…are you all right?"

This time he looked towards me and said, "Yeah…um…lets go."

He brushed past me and began to walk up the path ahead. I just stood there in wonder.

I wanted to ask him what he was being so secretive about…but I thought that it would be best not to interfere. Whatever it was…he'd tell me if it was really important.

"Well come on…" came his voice, which now seemed a lot more relaxed and slightly energetic.

"What?" I asked, shaking my head as I tried to make myself come back to the present.

"We're going to Besaid…follow me." he answered as I noticed him quicken his pace.

I began to follow as I inquired, "But…how?"

"You'll see…" he trailed off mysteriously.

Moments later I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Where did this come from?" I asked as I stared up at the huge machina in total shock.

"Don't worry just get on."

"But the teachings…I can't." I tried to explain. It was then that I began to realise just how hard it was going to be, having a guardian who didn't believe in the teachings.

"Do you wanna get to Besaid on time or not?" he asked, as he flashed me a questioning look, with his hands on his hips.

"Yeah Yunie…stop being a party pooper." Came a very familiar voice.

I turned my head to the side and I swear I saw a young Al Bhed girl running towards me.

"Rikku…" I began before I was almost knocked over by her forceful embrace. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh…I'm working on these things now." She explained as she let go of me, turned and waved in the direction of the airship in front of us.

"What I don't understand…what about the teachings…" I asked staring at her with curiosity.

"Oh come on Yunie…" she began as she turned to face me, "It's just a way for those guys we call maesters to gain control of everything," she said, and then she leant in closer and tapped the side of her head lightly, as she seemed to put on a fake expression of seriousness, "Including our minds."

I frowned and said, "Rikku that's not true…" but I wasn't heard as she went on to explain excitedly, "So anyway dad asked if I wanted to go with him on his journeys…you know how much I get bored at Besaid?…well anyway, yeah, now I'm flying all over Spira and stuff. It's so much fun Yunie."

"So why are you here now?" I asked as I felt myself becoming slightly happy for her being able to do something she wanted, even if it went against everything I believed in.

"Oh I'm here to take you back to Besaid…Brother is gonna take us there." She explained as she began to drag me towards the airship by the arm.

"But…" I tried to protest, as I turned to see where my guardian was.

"Don't worry, your little lover boy is already on board." She teased with that tone in her voice that told you that no matter how hard you tried to argue with her, she wouldn't give in.

However, I couldn't let her think that he was anything but my guardian, "Um Rikku…he's my guardian."

"Awe…how cute…now you have an excuse to be together all the time." She teased once more.

"Rikku what are the chances of me winning?" I sighed as we ran up the ramp of the airship.

"Hmm…" she pretended to think for a minute, "Slim to none."

That night it was really quiet aboard the airship and I hadn't seen much of my new guardian. However I had seen Rikku a lot and when I asked her how she knew where to find me… she told me that 'someone' had told her.

Word gets around fast.

Right now I was up on the deck watching all the stars whiz past at a rapid pace so that they looked more like the tales of pyreflies.

It was quiet up here…sitting on the edge of the airship, letting my hair fly freely. This would be the last time that I would be free. Tomorrow I would most likely be in Besaid…and tomorrow I would most likely become a summoner. However I had no regrets. This was the path that I had chosen. I wanted this…I knew what it meant…everyone expected it of me.

Is there a difference between doing something you want to do and doing something because everyone else wants you to do it?

"I thought I'd find you up here." Came a voice from behind.

I spun around on the surface of the deck and saw a blonde figure walking towards me.

I gave a small smile and then politely stood up.

"No…you don't have to get up…I was just coming up here to get some air myself." He explained as he motioned for me to sit down once again. I did so and a few minutes later a pair of legs stood beside me.

I stared at them for a minute and then turned back towards the sky.

"It's really nice isn't it?" he breathed quietly.

"Mmm…" came my reply, as I tried to take it all in.

"Now I understand why he always drifted off…" he whispered. It seemed like he was reminiscing on something.

"He who?" I asked, as I turned my face up towards his.

He opened his mouth, but was quick to shut it again as he said, "Ah it's nothing…come on we better go back…we'll be blown off the deck before we even reach Besaid with this weather." He said jokingly.

I laughed quietly and began to stand up…but as I did, I felt myself losing my balance. My feet lost their grip on the smooth surface of the airship…I was falling. But then… a pair of hands reached forward. I was being pulled back onto the safety of the deck…feeling a pair of strong, comforting arms pull me in close to their body…they held me close as they wrapped around my back.

I stood there for a while, staring at the spot I had been rescued from. I was so close to the edge of the deck…if he hadn't have been here…I could've…

"Are you okay?" came his calm voice.

I was in so much shock…I knew that I would have to give my life at the end of the pilgrimage…but that was different. I guess I wasn't afraid of death when I knew when and where to expect it.

I was ready to die for Spira…to defeat Sin. But I was so shaken by the fact that I could've died right now without a purpose…I felt myself just not being able to speak.

"Hey…are you all right?…don't go quiet on me now…I need someone to tell me what to do." He whispered, trying to lighten the mood…to make me feel better.

My face was once again buried in his clothed chest, with my eyes now shut tight. I wanted to forget this experience. It was too upsetting. I would surely have nightmares about it for a while.

"I'm so glad you were here." I whispered, as I felt myself clutching onto his shirt with fear and a long for security.

"Hey…I'm your guardian…what would that make me if I let you fall?" he inquired trying to comfort me, as he rubbed my bare back soothingly.

I didn't reply…I just stood there in the same position, loving the way I felt so safe in his arms. It had been a long time since I had ever felt so secure. My parents used to always give me hugs and tell me it was all right when there was a bad storm. I felt protected then and I felt it once again now. The weird thing was…why did he make me feel this way after everything that had happened so far?

"Heyyyy…I thought I'd find you up here…you little lovebirds." Came a shrill voice from the entrance of the deck.

We both immediately turned to see Rikku smiling and teasing us playfully. I guess we gave her all the more reason to carry on as well. We hadn't exactly let go of each other. We had simply separated a little, so that his hands rested on my upper arms and my hands were pressed against his chest.

Awkward…very awkward.

And it was going to be even more awkward after we let go. Well I guess we shouldn't feel that way…he was simply protecting me.

Slowly I felt my hands retreating back to my sides and he too let go of me. We stood just centimetres apart and I could feel his body heat against my skin.

"Rikku…there's nothing going on…" I began, only to be interrupted by her.

"Aha…yeah sure. I bet you had this all organised. Coming up here for a breath of fresh air and then a kiss or two hey?" she continued.

"Hey that's going a little too far don't you think?" came his voice seriously.

"Awe come on I'm only having a little fun." She whined.

I had had enough by now. I was tired, shaken and really felt like I was going to be sick from the previous events of the night.

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, "I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed."

With that I left the deck with Rikku chasing after me and leaving the man who had just saved my life.

"Hey wake up. It's morning." Came a hushed voice.

"Hmm…barely?" I mumbled, as I tried to make out who was speaking, noticing that it was only first light.

I saw that it was Rikku leaning over me, staring at me with an odd expression on her face.

"What is it Rikku?" I asked as I began to rise.

"Oh it's just…I thought…never mind." She trailed off with a look on her face that told me that she wanted me to pursue the subject matter.

"Go on, I know you're dying to get it out of your system." I laughed, as I wiped the sleep away from my eyes.

She smiled cheekily and I had a feeling that I wasn't going to like this.

"Well I swear I would have found that hottie in here with you this morning." She blurted out.

My mouth dropped open in utter shock as I stared at her in disbelief.

"Rikku…what do you take me for?" I asked, as I tried to show no expression of amusement on my face.

Not that I found any of this funny.

"Oh come on, I was only playing." She countered, as she began to heave me up from my bed.

"No Rikku…I don't want you to keep saying things like that. It makes it so much harder. He is my guardian and nothing more." I said, feeling a little upset.

"Gee Yunie…I didn't mean to hurt you or anything." She said sincerely, as she seemed to be on the verge of tears herself.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes to get a clearer vision of everything.

"It's okay…I'm overreacting…I guess I should just try and relax a little." I said trying to soothe her.

"Yeah…well I won't say anything stupid anymore…I promise." She said as the excitement in her voice returned.

I simply laughed and said, "Are you sure that's possible?"

"Hey…now who's being mean?" She giggled, as she tried to start a pillow fight with me.

"Hey you two…we're almost in Besaid…I suggest you go wash up Yuna." Came Cid...my uncles' voice.

I nodded and left my bed, preparing to get ready for the day ahead.

"I'll see you soon…I promise." Rikku reassured as she hugged me tightly.

After a few moments she looked up and said, "You don't have to be a summoner ya know?…you could always come back with me and dad and go places." She said, trying to make me reconsider my decision, while playing with my hair sadly.

I shook my head and whispered, "No…I have a responsibility."

"Let someone else do it Yunie…" she trailed off.

"Rikku…lets go. We're heading to Bikanel Island." Shouted uncle Cid from behind.

"I gotta go…but I'll see you later…okay." She silently threatened, as if telling me not to go through with the pilgrimage.

"Okay…goodbye Rikku." I said giving her a meaningful look from within my eyes.

A smile lit up her face beautifully as she spun around and headed back towards the airship…but suddenly she stopped and turned towards me again…but she wasn't looking at me.

She had a serious expression upon her usually cheerful, carefree face. She pointed one finger towards the area behind me and I curved my head to face what she was staring at. There stood my guardian looking at her strangely…letting his arms drop to his sides.

"Hey you…I want you to take good care of my cousin now okay?…don't let her out of your sight…" then she rubbed her chin thoughtfully with a mischievous expression on her face, "Well…I guess most of the time anyway…I don't think our Yunie's ready for that kind of relationship just yet."

I immediately spun around to face a guilty but cheeky-looking Rikku giving me a final wave before running up the ramp of the airship.

I hung my head in my hand, sighed and thought, she just couldn't help herself.

I then jumped, as I heard the airship start up stridently, feeling the massive amount of air gushing out from beneath it.

I watched as it began to hover above the ground and with a final wave from Rikku from the window; it shot off at full speed into the morning sky.

I stood there for a while…just thinking. This was it…my last few moments as an ordinary person…if I was fortunate enough to become a summoner, as my father had before me, ten years ago.

"Yuna." A voice from behind called out to me.

I turned my head to the left and saw that he was waiting for me patiently.

I nodded and turned around fully, to begin walking towards the temple of Besaid, which was located behind him up ahead.

A/N: Well chapter 11 is now up and ready to read. Enjoy.

Yunie Tidus