I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to come out! (please don't kill me) To make matters worse, it's kinda... is very short, but this part of the game is probably the most BORING one in the whole game.

Disclaimer: Yeah, I figure I need to add that I own nothing including the story, characters, ect... you know, just in case someone thinks I'm making something off of this.

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A stairway located not far from balcony overlooking Luca led to the Mi'ihen Highroad. The large Highway consisted of a wide, long dirt road that seemingly led to nowhere; but of course it led somewhere. On either side of it lay grassy hills and remnants of buildings from a long ago past that poked out of the ground much like they had at Besaid. Overall Tidus' first and only opinion of the Mi'ihen Highroad?

Boring.

Few people could be seen traversing it and as it was explained to him, due to the fact that this was a frequently used road, the crusaders took care of most of the fiends. So an hour into the walk Tidus could honestly say he had never been more bored in his life. They had run into a total of three fiends all day and Auron was quick to finish them off, leaving no room for Tidus to burn off some of his slowly accumulating energy. As much as he wanted to run off and explore some of the larger ruins or even just run to burn off some energy, sharp looks from Auron kept him in his place. Frustrated with their seemingly deliberate slow pace he glanced around hopefully for a distraction, smiling as he spotted one. An elderly man stood longingly in front of some particularly large ruins, but turned as the summons party approached. Slowly Tidus made his way to the edge of the party, hope playing on his knowledge of just how much old people liked to talk; he was not disappointed.

"Do you know what those ruins are from?" The man didn't seem to be talking to any of them in particular, but Tidus took it as a question pointed directly at him.

His smiled widened as he felt the heat of Auron glare; the older man knew exactly what Tidus was doing. Feigning ignorance he responded, "some old city?"

"Correct. A city most ancient! A terrible testament to Sin's power. I tremble every time I see them. Compared to Sin, humans are mere mudpuppies!" The mans gaze shifted and Tidus turned to see Yuna walk up beside him.

"But I believe humans are the only ones capable of defeating Sin." Her voice held a tone of desperation that almost made the blond flinch. He didn't want her to get upset.

The man smiled, appearing relieved at the summoner's words. "A good reply. I am relieved to hear you say that, m'lady summoner...Ahh!

"Where are my manners? I am Maechen, a scholar. At your service, m'lady. I am on a journey, studying the history of our world, Spira, seeking its stories and secrets...." The man paused as he shook Yuna's hand, glancing briefly at the others. "My travels have taken me to many places, and I am troubled by what I have seen. Fragile smiles on people's faces crumbling at the mere mention of Sin. They are counting on you, m'lady. Give them a reason to rejoice once more."

Giving the scholar a warm smile she gave a short nod.

"I will." With that the group continued forward.

"...Hmph..." Tidus sighed heavily as they started back on course, rolling his eyes as Auron shot him another glare. The man treated him like a child, constantly reprimanding him for just about everything but he had to admit it was good to have him back. Though just about everything he thought he knew about the man seemed to prove wrong, he was still his only connection to home. In the end he had to admit that overall he just felt better having his mentor nearby, keeping an eye out for him. If anything, Auron would keep him from doing something stupid...again.

"Pay attention." A gruff voice pulled Tidus away from his thoughts and he turned to offer his own glare at the man.

Pay attention? Pay attention to what? To the one fiend that might just happen to walk by that you would get anyway?

The older man flashed him an amused warning. Rolling his eyes, he pulled his attention back to the road. Another ten minutes passed before they happened upon an unusual (at least to him) sight. Three people, two woman and a scrawny looking man, were talking a little ways away as they sat upon bright yellow birds. It took Tidus a moment to recognize them as chocobo's. He hadn't seen those in years, not since he had wandered across a fair when he was ten and saw them preforming in one of the tents. Instead of colored scarfs, these chocobo's wore shiny steel armor that covered their heads and necks. The three people, crusaders by the look of them, sat on leather saddles speaking quietly amongst themselves. They turned as the party approached them.

"Lady Summoner, I presume?" The three stood at attention, saluting the party in a similar fashion as Gatta had when he explained the Crusaders to him.

"Yes, I am Yuna." She bowed quickly to them.

"I am Lucil, captain of the Djose Chocobo Knights." Tidus tilted his head as he examined the captain. From the bright red hair to the purple jumpsuit that refused to cover her legs, she looked nothing like what he would have expected from such a title.

"And I'm Elma. We've been charged to guard the Highroad." The next girl spoke up and he thought she looked more the part then he captain. She wore red and brown leathers and white skirt that did a little better in hiding her legs. The only thing that seemed amiss was the crown of colored beads that she wore around her short black hair.

"There have been reports of a large fiend appearing in this area, with a taste for chocobos. Do take care, Summoner Yuna, if you are to rent any chocobos." Lucil may not have looked the part, but she held a strong authoritative voice.

Yuna bowed once more, "thank you. We will be careful."

Lucil gave the girl a curt nod before turning back to her party. "Good. We should get back to our rounds. Farewell."

"Our prayers are with you." Elma waved at them as the two-three members raced off. It hadn't occurred to Tidus until they left that they hadn't been introduced to the last member of their group.

But even as his mind touched down on the subject it was pulled away to a more enticing one.

"A large fiend...Let's go get him!" He flinched as Auron gave him a hard look, but shook it off as he turned to look at the rest of the party. With the exception of Yuna, they all gave him the same questioning look. Turning back to Auron, he gave the man a look that screamed challenge.

Sighing the man gave in. "Why?"

"It's the right thing to do." How could anyone argue with that?

"It's the right thing to do?" Instead of the rebuff he was expecting, Auron started laughing. When the rest of the group gave him the same mixed look of utter confusion, he explained. "Jecht said that a lot, too. And every time he said it, it meant trouble for Braska and me."

Still chuckling Auron started back on their path, giving Tidus his unspoken permission.

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Twenty minutes later, the rush of emotions that had come from winning the argument had worn off and Tidus was back to fidgeting as they walked. He had just started a new game of 'trying to see how long he could kick a rock' when Yuna changed course and walked over to a clearing situated to the right. Standing their was a woman wearing a long green robe, similar to the ones the priests in the temples wore.

"Ah, a summoner party." She bowed before them and Yuna bowed back.

"You, too, are a summoner?" She asked timidly.

"My name is Belgemine. You are...?"

"My name is Yuna."

"Ah, the high summoner's daughter. I've heard much of you. But you are still fresh on the road, are you not?" Tidus felt a sting of annoyance flash through him as he once again wondered if anyone knew Yuna by anything but her father.

"Yes, I am." Despite her polite tone, he thought he heard the same feelings hidden beneath.

If Belgemine noticed she gave no sign, "I might have a few things to teach you." She smiled gently at Yuna's surprise. "Let us see which are stronger. My aeons or yours. A one-on-one match. Not to the death, of course. What do you say?"

Yuna looked back at her guardians and with a small nod from Lulu, responded to the summoners request.

"I'll do my best."

A rough hand pulled Tidus away as the challenge begun, Belgamine summoning Ifrit and Yuna Valefor. Tidus gasped as Ifrit came forward; as Valefor conveyed a strange gentleness, Ifrit seemed to radiate raw anger. In appearance, it suggested a mix between a wolf and a human, it's muscular body a dark red as flames licked off it. Tidus briefly wondered if the summoner would be burned standing so close to it.

The battle lasted barely ten minutes and in the end Tidus wasn't sure who had won. Both Aeons were whisked away as the guardians returned to their summoner, though more out of curiosity then protectiveness.

"-id well. You show promise. With more training, you could defeat Sin." A light blush crept up onto Yuna's fair cheeks at the older woman's praise.

"Thank You!" Shaking her head at the outburst, she composed herself before continuing. "But I think you might defeat Sin before I am able to."

"I cannot." Yuna looked up curiously at the woman's response, a slight tilt of her head conveying question.

"Or should I say...I was not able to." Her eyes widened in surprise. Confused, Tidus glanced around at his party members, seeing the same expression reflected on their faces...Hmph, except of Auron of course.

"You mean..."Yuna's voice came out almost shaky as new emotion flicked in her eyes. Confused, Tidus turned to Wakka but the older man just shook his head, a silent plea not to press the matter.

"Farewell, Yuna. We'll meet again." The woman stayed there watching as once more the group assumed their position, continuing down the road. Tidus glanced back at the summoner as thoughts conquered his mind and once more he was struck with the feeling that there was something very imortant that he was missing here. He'd been feeling that more and more lately.

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I know this chapter was super short, but right now it's all I can release. Been so busy lately, looking for a job, doctor appointments, ect... Next chapter is also dialogue heavy but I promise this will be the shortest any chapter will ever be in this story (except for the prolgue and maybe the epilogue) I know you guys probably hate me right now, but I promise the next chapter will come out sooner.