Chapter 9: Only on the Farplane
Izaya climbed out of the river, wringing out his clothes. "Ok. We have to cross the Moonflow now. We'll have to go by shoopuf." Umira smiled. "Really? A shoopuf? I always wanted to ride on one!"
"Milady summoner, you never rode one?" Izaya asked as Umira nodded.
"Neither have I… I think." Byakko said quietly as Izaya laughed.
"Goodness! Shoopufs are Spira's gentle giants. I love them so much. Let's get going then."
Umira looked at Byakko as he followed Izaya to where the shoopufs were. Umira looked on with amazement at the giants.
"Wow…" She said, smiling.
"Ride ze shoopuf?" She heard the hypello driver asked, "Oh, I rememberz the priezt, yez? He rode ze shoopuf and fell in the water, crying like a baby." Izaya blushed, "Now, now. Three for the ride please."
"All aboardz?" The rider said, sitting on the shoopuf's head as Umira, Byakko and Izaya sat in the basket on its back. The shoopuf began to walk across the Moonflow as Umira looked around, excited.
"Wow… this is so wonderful." Byakko smiled, hearing Umira's comment.
"Hey, can't this thing go any faster?" Izaya asked the driver.
"Don't ruzh ze shoopuf, yez?" The driver said as Umira sighed and put her head on Byakko's shoulder. Byakko looked at her and noticed that she had fallen asleep. A smile found its way onto his face as he looked up at the stars.
"So, Byakko. Tell me, where have you been before you became Umira's guardian?" Izaya asked, quietly. Byakko chuckled to himself.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'm your best friend, Byakko. And I was worried about you when you ran away."
"Yeah right…"
"Really! You were the only person I really liked as a kid and when you disappeared, I missed you. So, where did you go?"
"Fine. Do you really want to know?"
"Yes!"
"Do you really, really want to know?"
"Yes, I do!" Byakko leaned over to Izaya and said in his ear, "I was nowhere." Izaya looked at him with scolding look on his face. "No fair, Byakko." Byakko laughed as Izaya's response as the shoopuf continued along.
As they reached the shore, Umira began to stir a little bit. Byakko looked at her as the driver stood up.
"All ashorez!" Byakko gently shook Umira then whispered, "Umira. Wake up. We've crossed the Moonflow." Umira opened her eyes and looked up at Byakko with a smile. She sat up and stepped down from the shoopuf as Byakko walked up beside her. "So, did you enjoy your shoopuf ride, Umira?" She nodded as Izaya jumped down from the basket and landed next to Byakko.
"Alright! Our next destination is Guadosalam! Lady Umira, you can rest there." Izaya said, fairly loudly despite the time of night it was. Umira giggled as Byakko picked her up in his arms. She looked at him, with a sleepy look in her eyes, "What are you doing?"
"You look very tired, Umira. I'll carry you to Guadosalam. It isn't too far ahead. Just relax and we'll be there in no time." The summoner yawned and rested her head against his shoulder again. Byakko started towards Guadosalam with Izaya following behind him.
"Izaya, did you have to be so loud? It is nighttime after all…"
"Yea, I didn't mean to be so loud. I just got so excited about seeing Guadosalam again." Byakko sighed again as they reached the entrance to Guadosalam. "Good, we're here," Byakko said, walking to the inn. A Guado woman led Byakko to a room in the back of the inn as Izaya looked around Guadosalam, still very much excited.
The next morning, Umira woke up and walked to the front of the inn. "Good morning, everyone."
"Oh, milady summoner," the woman said from behind the counter, "The young man who was with you said to meet him at the entrance to the Farplane." Umira nodded and started towards the Farplane, actually happy to be heading there. In a few moments, she met up with Byakko and Izaya. "Morning, sleepyhead. Sleep well?" Byakko smiled as Umira nodded. "Before continuing on, we're going to visit the Farplane." Izaya took a noticeable step back.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Izaya?" Umira asked as Izaya smiled.
"N-nothing… it's just, I don't like going to the Farplane." Byakko started up the stairs with Umira following him. "Oh, well. You stay here, then."
Pasting through the barrier, Umira and Byakko stood on the floating rock in the middle of the Farplane. They were the only ones there and, even though it looked beautiful, it was a little creepy. Umira walked to one of the edges and closed her eyes. Byakko walked over to her as an image of an old woman dressed in Besaid fabrics appeared in front of her.
"Who's that, Umira?" Byakko asked quietly as Umira smiled.
"Her? She's the woman who took me in when I first came to Besaid… the reason I became a summoner." Byakko looked at the woman, who looked liked she was mad or upset.
"She didn't want me to become a summoner… she said I'd be throwing my life away for people who didn't care about Yevon. But when Sin attacked Besaid and killed her… I had no choice but to become a summoner to make sure people who were as kind and as caring as her didn't die again." Byakko noticed tears falling down Umira's face as she spoke. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she began crying a little. Umira looked up at Byakko, wiping her eyes. "But from that attack, I found you," she said, smiling at him then hugging him, "And with you by my side, I knew I could start my pilgrimage." Byakko blushed slightly as he hugged Umira back. A friendly hug… it was all he could offer her. They wouldn't be anything more than summoner and guardian… so he would have to get used to it.
Walking back from the Farplane, Umira kept her eyes to the floor, still sniffling a little. Byakko saw Izaya up ahead and sighed.
"Ok, onto the Thunder Plains," Izaya said as Umira flinches a little, "What's wrong, milady?"
Umira looked at him, "I… hate… thunder…" As they reached the entrance to the Thunder Plains, Umira trembled as thunder boomed loudly. She held Byakko's arm as Izaya laughed.
"Don't worry, milady. We'll cross these plains without being struck!"
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AN: Awww! How sweet. Ok, sorry for the delay, folks. Kinda went on a story hiatus. But I'm back! Also, for those wondering, Umira and company will meet up with someone we all know well soon enough. Just wait and see.
