I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY 10 CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(

Chapter Nineteen

A Promise

"That hurts! Try to be gentle, you damn cat!"

Charel gave a snort. "Keep yelling at him and he'll only be rougher."

Joey gave another groan as Kimahri continued to pull out the quills from his back. He and Tidus had gotten into another fight and it had resulted in a disrupting the sleep of a strange creature that fired the quills into both of the men. Kimahri had volunteered to rip the quills out and Joey was less than pleased as Tidus and the others laughed at him.

"So..." Wakka's voice piqued up. "What do we do now?"

A silence fell over the area until Auron spoke up. "We will do as the Summoner wishes," He looked at Yuna. "If she wishes to continue her pilgrimage then we shall."

Yuna kept her head down. No one, outside of Kimahri as he de-quilled Joey and Tidus, moved. Not until Serenity did. The woman stood up, tossing her white-blonde hair over her shoulder.

"Think carefully," Serenity told the younger woman. "Don't feel obligated to continue for the people. If you want to quit then do so now."

Yuna watched as the woman began to walk away. "Um...Lady Serenity, is what Seymour said true? Do you...already possess the...the Final Aeon?"

Her answer was silence as she left the area.

"Does it matter if she does or not?" Charel growled. "She gave up trying to save the world. It's not her responsibility anymore so stop asking about it."

"Protective of her now, are we?" Rikku raised a brow.

Charel glanced away, Serenity's story passing through her head. "Maybe..."

"Well, we can't sleep on empty stomachs," Melanie smiled. "Lulu, want to help?"

Lulu gave a nod and smiled as she stood. "We'll be back soon."

Tidus wore a frown as Kimahri pulled the last quill out of him. He was so confused and he didn't like it. So much had happened over the course of the last few days and he was still trying to wrap his head around it all. And with his father being Sin and all...Seymour had claimed to wanting to become the Final Aeon and then becoming Sin. What had he meant?

"Hey," Joey's voice made the teen look at the man that sat beside him. "I know you're still a kid but I know I've taught you better than this over the course of the journey."

"What are you talking about?"

"What do you think I'm talking about?" Joey looked at him like he was stupid. "Your lady's in distress. Do you plan on just leaving her like that?"

Tidus hung his head. "She...won't tell me anything. What am I supposed to say to her?"

"Sometimes you don't have to say anything," Joey tusseled the teen's hair. "Sometimes all you need to do is be there." Tidus glanced at him again. "What, do I have to drag you there myself?"

The teen stood with a smile. "You know, you're not that bad of a guy, Joey."

"Don't say that aloud; you'll ruin my reputation." The man watched as the teen stalked off and shook his head. "Young ignorance it quite amusing."

Tidus didn't have to go far to find what he wanted. Serenity had found a small lake and was currently sitting at the edge of the water, staring at her reflection. Her face was blank but he knew that, if he looked in her eyes, he would see stress and grief and god knows what else. He opened his mouth to speak but Joey's words caught him. Instead he moved up and knelt behind her. He was timid at first, almost not doing so, but he wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her against his chest. He half expected her to pull away from him but she fell back, one of her hands coming forward to rest on his arm.

She didn't say a word so he didn't either. Holding her was enough for now. He wouldn't make her say anything until she wanted to. Tidus admitted that he had begun flirting with Serenity to pass the time in the beginning, because she was different, but it had transpired into something much else. He realized that completely after the events on the Beach. He had awoken one night and seen that she was still awake and leaving their camp. At first he had thought she was going to the bathroom but when she didn't return he followed her. It was that night they had their first, thorough conversation and he realized that there was a scared woman hiding behind the fierce skin she wore. That night he made a promise to stop her fear. He wanted that almost as much as he wanted to return home.

Then again, Tidus had come to realize that he and his aunt would never return to Zanarkand. If they were to defeat Sin then their connection to home would be broken. He knew that Melanie knew it to but they never spoke about it. She had Auron here so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. That was right, Melanie had Auron and he had...

"You should rest," Serenity's voice finally sounded, low and soft. "We won't be able to stay here after sunrise."

"And what about you?"

"I can look after myself," She told him. "Don't worry about me."

"But I want to worry about you," He admitted, tightening his grip around her.

"What do you want from me, Tidus?" She finally asked.

"I want you to tell me everything," Tidus told her. "Everything that happened in Zanarkand. You don't have to hold it in anymore. I don't care what comes out of your mouth or what secrets you're holding. It won't change anything I feel for you."

"You say that now," She shook her head. "But you'll change."

Tidus was more shocked that she didn't try and tell him to shove his feelings. "Why don't you try me?"

"And risk having you hate me?"

"I wouldn't ask you to if I hadn't already decided that I wouldn't." He told her. "Nothing you tell me could make me hate you, Serenity. Trust me; please."

Serenity closed her eyes, tightening her grip on Tidus' arm, as if afraid he would leave. "Braig was my older brother. After our parents died and we were forced to live in the streets, he always took care of me. I can't explain how many times he got caught and beaten for stealing or how many times he gave me what little food he had and starved himself. We met Joey on the streets, as well as a few other orphans that had come together as a family and after that things got a little better. Bevelle became our playground and so we grew learning every secret and passage of the city. We snuck into the Palace so many times and were caught. Maester Mika was lenient with us, though. He began to teach us to read and write; and told us about the glory of being a Summoner. The wealth and fame we would have if we killed Sin. He never...told us that it would result in both our deaths. We wanted money to take care of the other Orphans. We just wanted to help those we had. Braig was already strong as it was, due to all the fights that he and Joey scuffled in amongst each other and guards. He woke me up one night with Joey and said that we were leaving. Joey wanted to come but Braig made him stay behind and watch over the younger orphans until we returned." Serenity took a breath.

"On the way to the temples we trained, learning from others that we met. I was happy; we both were. We saw so many things and met so many people. With Braig at my side I wasn't worried, though; not until I met Odin. When I learned what he wanted as Payment I almost left the Temple but Braig liked Odin."

"He joined you in the Fayth?"

"Of course; he wouldn't let me go in by myself in the first Temple and after that he just went right in with me. He and Odin...it was a mutual agreement, almost a friendship between them. That four-armed bastard even made a joke about preferring Braig as the Summoner." She choked out a laugh and that's when Tidus felt something wet drop on his arms. Serenity was cry. He tried to pull her closer, knowing what part was about to come. She clutched at his arms with both hands now, squeezing tightly.

"Zanarkand...was in shambles. We headed for the Temple and there we met Yunalesca and learned the dark truth behind the fate of Summoners and Guardians. Yunalesca was the first Summoner to defeat Sin..."

Serenity closed her eyes again, the memory flashing through her mind.

"Who are you?"

Serenity's could barely see over her brother's shoulder but the woman had long silver hair and was barely dressed. She gave the duo a smile.

"I am Yunalesca," Her eyes widened. This...this was the first Summoner to defeat Sin years ago! "How was she here? Was her soul never sent to the Farplane? "Welcome to Zanarkand. I congratulate you, Summoner. You have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow you with that which you seek." She held her arms out. "The Final Summoning...will be yours." She then frowned. "Did you bring only one Guardian?"

"She only needed one," Braig answered. He had an uncomfortable feeling swirling around in his stomach. This woman...

"Then so it will be. You, Guardian, are to become the Fayth of the Final Summoning."

Serenity's eyes widened. "What...what are you talking about?"

Yunalesca closed her eyes. "There must be a bond, between chosen and Summoner, for that is what the Final Summoning embodies: the bond between husband and wife, mother and child, between friends, and even brother and sister. If that bond is strong enough, its light will conquer Sin. A thousand years ago, I chose my husband, Zaon, as my Fayth. Our bond was true, and I obtained the Final Aeon. There is nothing to fear. You will soon be freed of worry and pain. For once you call forth the Final Aeon, your life will end. Death is the ultimate and final liberation."

"What are you talking about?" Braig looked shocked. "You mean...both of us will die?"

"Yes."

She said it so calmly. Serenity felt her body tremble as her fear grew worse. Mika...he had never told them this. Surely he knew. He had lied to them...he had known what would happen...all their plans when they returned to Joey and the others, everything was crashing down.

"You're crazy," Braig's voice was firm as he kept himself between his sister and the other woman. "How could you think that, even for a moment, I would let you do this to us?"

"You've already entered," Yunalesca told him. "Your resistance now is futile."

"Serenity," Braig kept his eyes trained on Yunalesca. "Get out of here."

"And just leave you?" She cried.

"I'll be right behind you."

"You promise?"

Braig smiled at her. "Promise."

Serenity backed away and turned for the door they had entered through but the door wouldn't open.

"You didn't think you could enter and just leave, did you?" Yunalesca called to them. "Both entered this temple willingly, whether or not your feelings have changed. You cannot leave until you have received the Final Aeon."

"You won't let us go, huh?" Braig positioned himself into a fighting stance. "Then we'll just have to force our way out then, won't we? Serenity, are you ready? Don't hold anything back!"

"We fought her, but it was pointless," Serenity continued. She couldn't stop the tears now but Tidus still hung to her. "No matter what we had done, she overpowered us. She...defeated us like all our hard work had been for nothing." She stared a the crystals are they floated into the sky around them. She remembered being here with her brother... "Despite our efforts, Yunalesca killed my brother. She...she turned him into the Final Aeon just as he was dying. I...I couldn't lose him. I made the deal with the Fayth and received him as my Summon but...instead of leaving, I Summoned Odin in the Temple. I know that Yunalesca was wounded but I was close to death. After I summoned Odin I passed out and awoke in some old woman's shack. She told me that she found me near death and that I was asleep for nearly a week. Odin had taken me from Zanarkand; he had saved me." She shook her head. "I swore to never summon Tarkein because he is my final Aeon. He's my brother. If I were to summon him then both his soul, and mine, would perish. I...I can't do that. I can't kill him! I won't let Braig become Sin!" She took another breath. "It wasn't long after that I met your father. He...sought me out. He knew that I had received the final Aeon but he...he didn't attack me. He spoke to me instead,l asking me to give him a little more time. He told me that he wanted his son to be the one to set him free from the trap he had been inserted into. He wanted me to help bring you to him, Tidus." She felt his grip loosen and her next words just came bursting out. "I wanted to tell you everything but I...I just couldn't. I curse myself for even thinking about leaving Bevelle and becoming a Summoner. I wish that I had never made these choices! I wouldn't have lost Braig, I wouldn't be balancing between life and death and I-"

"-Wouldn't have met me," Tidus' words were soft but they stung.

She couldn't hide it anymore. "Yes..." She gasped. "I wouldn't have met you and by doing so I wouldn't have these feelings. The fear I feel."

Tidus drew his arms back. Serenity felt this moment of panic but pulled a confused face as Tidus moved to sit in front of her. He reached forward and wiped the tears from her face. "Who'd have thought a little feelings could make you cry."

She glared at him. "This isn't funny!"

"I know it isn't," He told her. "You were fed lies and it led to the loss of your brother. Now you have a demon-freak feasting on your soul and if you were to kill Sin you and your brother both will die. I can't say I understand what you're feeling, but I can tell you that you don't have to face it alone anymore." He wiped more tears away. "You only came with us to help bring me to my father. You went out of your way to grant the final wish of a man you didn't even know. I'm happy."

"Happy?"

"Call me a monster, but of you had not gone through what you did, if you had not lost everything, then the two of us never would have met. I only have you because you lost your brother. I don't even want to think about not having you here." She went to say something but he placed a finger on her lips. "I'm not going anywhere. If you want to leave Yuna and the others then I'll come find you after I...save my father. If you'll continue with us then I'll make sure that you'll never face something like this again. And when we find this Yunalesca then I'll get revenge against her for what she did to you. And after this is all over then you'll never have to Summon again, leaving Odin without a soul to feast upon anymore. I'll take you so far away from all of this that you'll never be sad again."

"Tidus," She stared at him in silence before shaking her head. "My sins can't re erased-"

"I'll erase them."

"-and I'll never be forgiven-"

"I forgive you."

"-Let alone forgive myself-"

"I'll show you how."

"You can't be serious, Tidus."

"I'm stubborn; got that from both father and aunt, I'm afraid."

"Why do you care?!" She cried. "Why care at all?"

"Because I love you."

His words were soft again, his left hand cupping her cheek as he gave her that smile of his. She couldn't find her voice, left to only stare at him. "I used to hate my father because he took all of mother's attention but now...now I understand the feelings they held for each other. Any pain you feel makes me angry and it makes me want to protect you from anything else. I hate it when your sad or mad and I definitely hate it when you're not walking next to me. When you collapsed I didn't know what to do; my mind seemed to shut down. I was surprised that I even got you back to the others. I wouldn't let any of them touch you, refusing to let anyone else touch you. You can call yourself a monster and blame yourself for everything that's happened but I see differently. I see a woman who's lost her way and just needs someone to fill that void she thinks she has in her heart now. I'm that guy, Serenity, and no matter what you say you can't change my mind. Even after this pilgrimage is over, no matter how it ends, you're stuck with me anywhere you go, and that's a promise I'm going to keep."

She dropped her gaze. "I...I don't deserve this; not you or your kindness."

"I'll decide what you deserve or not," Tidus lifted her head back up. "And I've decided that I want you, no matter what you've done or what will happen. You can argue all you want but it won't change my mind. In the end, I'll get what I want."

Serenity stared at him for a moment before launching herself at him. Tidus' heart jumped, he thought she was going to hit him, but when her lips pressed to his he smiled and fell back to the ground, dragging her on top of him. No more words passed between them as Tidus hugged her to him, drawing circles on her back as she rested her face on his chest. Her tears had finally subsided but he knew that she was still in pain, that she still blamed herself. He wanted to fix that; he was going to fix that.

"Let's head back to the others," He whispered in her hair a short while later. He wanted to stay here with her longer but didn't want Joey or one of the others to come searching for them.

She nodded and let him help her up. Gripping to his hands, she let him lead her back to the camp to partake in whatever food Melanie and Lulu and returned with.

"We leave at dawn," Yuna smiled. "And I'm sorry for putting all of you through this."

"Enough," Auron told her. "You need your rest."

"We all do after the hell of a day we just had," Melanie rolled her neck as she stood. "I'm going for a walk."

"What? I thought you were talking about resting?" Tidus commented. "You-" Serenity elbowed him in the ribs and his eyes widened in understanding as he noticed that Auron was no longer in their little camp. "Oh."

"Oh is right," Serenity covered a yawn.

"Come on, you," Tidus grabbed her hand and drug her to the base of the tree he had been sitting at before.

Joey grinned, watching the two of them. "He actually did it. Who'd have thought he had it in him?"

"He did learn from the best, you know," Lulu told him, taking a seat beside him. She smiled as the man draped his jacket around her shoulders. "And you're the best."

Joey grinned and gave her a kiss on the cheat. "You got that right."

PLEASE REVIEW :)