Chapter 20: Calm Before the Storm
"Hello, Tidus." Areth purred, glancing at me before returning to Lenne. Gently kissing her on her hand, he continued to say, "M'lady… I do hope you haven't been made too distressed."
"But how? Why?" I muttered, surprised that the one I thought was my enemy had just saved the woman I loved.
"Always ready to help a friend in need…" He simply replied, looking at me with confident and calm eyes.
I still couldn't believe it. Areth was a part of Bevelle. He should have been helping those soldiers kill Lenne and Kirin, yet he saved them while I wasn't able. He had killed his own to rescue an enemy.
"So, I'm sure you're very confused at seeing the two of us, eh?" A voice sounded in the distance, announcing its presence. I turned to meet its owner and saw another familiar face, this being the same one who'd told me of Areth's instability.
"Kai? What's going on? Why are you guys helping us stay alive?" I asked the blitzer, "Shouldn't you be wishing for the day you could dance on our graves or something?"
"Well, it was Areth's idea. He said he didn't want to see Zanarkand fall. He said that Bevelle wasn't doing the right thing by starting this mess and I agreed with him. That's why we're here. We wanna help." He explained, offering a sincere smile.
I uneasily nodded, still not fully believing their story, a grievous side effect of being in offense against their home. I made my way over to Kirin and helped her to her feet once her unique potion healed her wounds.
"Are you okay?" I asked her, checking for signs of permanent damage. She nodded slightly and looked past me, sharing my confusion in her gaze. "Yea, they said they're here to help." I relayed Kai's word to her.
"Aren't those two from Bevelle, though?" She asked, her speech giving away her perplexity.
"Yea… The guy with the blue hair is Areth and the other guy is, his best friend, Kai. Apparently, they don't like this war as much as we don't." I replied.
Soon after, we were rejoined by the two of them, Lenne following suit. "So, you trust us?" Kai asked, offering a hand.
"For now, I don't see a reason why not." I requited, extending my hand to welcome them.
Together, the five of us reentered the battlefield. After Areth and Kai had taken down those other guys, none had come to take their place as it appeared Bevelle was ransacking the northwest wall instead. We actually had to travel some distance in order to find anybody else to fight. Both of our new Bevelle allies wielded gunblades that were more on the blade side than the rest. The two of them made short work of their former teammates and it seemed that they were indeed trustworthy. Kai had done nothing for me to distrust and he seemed to have renewed faith in his best friend. I felt there was no need to be cautious about the sudden desertion despite its impeccable timing. Some minutes into the battle, I finally chose to stop standing there like an idiot and actually help out. As if to follow my lead, Lenne began to summon something and Kirin ran with me to help out the two. At that moment, Kai began having trouble with a few of his foes, being that they were starting to fire at him by keeping their distance from his rapier. He was hit in the leg and fell to the ground, effectively slowing his counterattacks. I moved in and deflected what would have been a fatal shot to the face of my new friend, swatting it into another soldier standing close by, ready to cut into Kai should the shot not do him in.
"Thanks, Tidus. I didn't want my debut on your side to end that quickly." He joked, allowing me to get him back to his feet. Lenne cast a Cura spell on his leg injury and returned to casting Black Magic on other nearby aggressors. She had summoned Kinok to help out and the earth-element Aeon made quite the impact on Bevelle. Using its various spells, Kinok buried a group of soldiers in a chasm and smacked whoever else was left with its armored tail. It didn't take too long for us to remove the threat to Zanarkand, especially following the destruction of both machina.
Later on, after Bevelle had retreated for the second time I'd witnessed, the remaining troops of Zanarkand set up camp to rest up until the next attack. Kirin had gone to find Ju and the others while Lenne and I remained as hosts for the two defecting Jowiles. Meanwhile, in the distance, I could hear many voices singing what Lenne had taught them before, the new song of victory:
I e yu i
No bo me no
Re n mi ni
Yo ju yo go
Ha se te ka na e
Ku ta ma e
"What is that?" Areth asked, having never heard the melody.
"Yea, what are those guys singing over there?" Kai added, not knowing that it was our way of making fun of Bevelle's losses.
"I hope you guys don't take offense, but…" I started to say.
"I made it up to celebrate Zanarkand's victories. It pays respect to those lost in battle and gives hope to those still living that Zanarkand has a chance…" Lenne continued.
"And we use it to mock Bevelle's failures." I admitted, not wanting to hide the facts just because they were from Bevelle.
Lenne finished our explanation, "My apologies if it displeases you. It would be understandable."
"It sounds lovely, m'lady." Areth purred, making a slight smile at my songstress.
I didn't expect Kai or Areth to feel comfortable about that song. It was being sung to spite Bevelle, the place of their birth. "Guys, you don't have to listen if you don't want to. We could leave right now." I offered, feeling sympathy towards them.
"Nah, it's… catchy." Kai insisted, a hint of melancholy in his voice as he tried to smile.
"I e yu i…" He began to sing.
"Are you sure about this?" Lenne and I asked together.
With a reassuring smile, both Areth and Kai sang the rest of the song happily, celebrating Zanarkand's victory as their own victory. I could see how strongly they felt when they joined our cause.
When it got into the afternoon hours, we went to find Kirin, Rothel, Ju, Damu, Larea, and Galte so that we could all go hang out for the rest of the day and make proper introductions. At first, Galte didn't accept the two deserters of Bevelle.
He had growled, "Galte not trust Bevelle. Areth and Kai from Bevelle. Galte not trust them. Areth and Kai liars and great threat they make to Zanarkand."
However, Areth found a way to ease even the Ronso's hard heart with his smooth words, "I know that Bevelle hasn't been up to anything good. Believe me, they never were and it sickened me greatly. Just trust in this: Kai and I, we are Bevelle no more. Let it be known this day: Bevelle's evil will no longer taint these two; let Zanarkand thrive everlasting!"
Not even Galte's stubbornness could keep up after those words. Areth just sounded too sincere and steadfast and the way he had sung Zanarkand's victory song from before, he couldn't possibly be masking deception. Not only that, but Kai trusted him and I had no doubt in my mind that Kai was honest. The last time we spoke, he gave me nothing to doubt in his sincerity.
"So what ya guys wanna do? I'ma bit hungry, ya know? You guys up for some grub?" Rothel asked as we continued walking around aimlessly.
"I'm a little hungry myself." Kai added.
"Yea, me too." Kirin followed, putting a hand on her stomach.
"So let's stop talking about our hunger and go get something to eat already." I suggested. With everybody craving some eats, we continued onward and eventually found some fast food place.
To tell the truth, I really had no hunger in me then. I was too preoccupied with the day's prior events. First and foremost was Lenne and Kirin's near death experience. I still couldn't shake the fear and despair I felt when I thought they were about to die. Kirin meant everything to me. When my mother died, not long after my father's "disappearance", it was Kirin who got me out of my depression. I hated my father, yes, but I loved my mother deeply. She was all I really had growing up. When she died, I threw all that on Kirin. If I were to lose her, I'd probably go back to sulking and hating the world. Then, there was Lenne. I loved her with all my heart regardless of my inability to admit it to her. If she was taken from me, well, the reaction in my first dream seemed accurate enough. I'd go ballistic! The loss would fill me with blind rage and unadulterated psychosis. I think I'd lose my mind from the stress. Those two, they were all that kept me the kind of person I am. To lose them, I could never forgive myself and then there would be no salvation for my dark soul…
Secondly, those newcomers were in my head. I didn't know what was going on in their minds, but I was sure they'd need a friend in this new, foreign environment. I knew that if situations were reversed, I'd really appreciate someone there to help me ease in the nuances of being in a widely different land.
"I'll have the fish sandwich." Ju said, pointing at a picture of the item, "No meal, lots of tartar sauce, and make it crispy."
I suddenly realized I'd been staring at Areth the whole time I was thinking about Lenne and Kirin, lost in the void of my fathoms. "Oh sorry, Areth." I apologized, "Didn't mean to stare at you like that."
"Oh, it's perfectly alright, Tidus…" He retorted, giving me a grin before putting up his order.
"Hey, T, you're up!" Kirin chirped once he finished, walking off to speak with Kai.
"Thanks for the secrecy." I whispered to Kirin as I brushed past, realizing that both Areth and Kai still knew me to be Tidus and Tidus alone.
I probably would want to wait until later on to tell them that I was really Shuyin. They had my confidence, but not my faith. Areth gazed at us and I thought there was something there, but brushed it off as mindless paranoia.
"Uh, I'll take the Puzina." I said, pointing at the stuffed roll. It was one of my favorites when it came to fast food, a roll packed with bell peppers, sautéed beef, and parsley.
"Is that all you're going to eat?" Lenne asked, forever concerned about my well-being.
"Why? It's enough." I replied, looking at her. I knew it really wasn't enough and normally, when I had the chance to sit and eat, I'd order a lot more, but again, I really wasn't thinking about food.
"Er… okay, add on an order of Red Tuna and an alchem-cola." I said, giving in. After all, if I didn't eat, Lenne would be thinking about me too much to eat herself.
"So what made ya guys switch sides? Bevelle couldn'ta treated ya that bad, ya know? What got you guys out?" Rothel asked while stuffing his face full.
"Hey, Bevelle can kiss my ass for all I care about it anymore. I mean, I loved it before, but starting up a war because Zanarkand had us beat in economy? That's just stupid and I wouldn't have anymore of it." Kai explained with an angry grunt.
Figured I was right about Bevelle. They were jealous of the grand look Zanarkand had. It was the city that never slept, after all. There was entertainment wherever you looked and round the clock. And not only that, but the entire city was prosperous. Even our poorest areas were richer than some whole cities on Spira. It didn't surprise me a bit that a cold city like Bevelle would be a little envious.
"So, they started this war because Zanarkand is more attractive of a city?" I asked, rhetorically, also huffing at the Spartan insanity.
"Bevelle doesn't major its funding on the commercial side of things. Bevelle puts more of its resources into arms technology and research. When it comes to brute strength, Bevelle is top gun." Areth inputted, "Of course, that doesn't add much revenue back into the Gross Product Attribute."
"Yea, well, that don't give them the right ta pound on us wit them war machina. Zanarkand's a peaceful city. We ain't been ta war in how many centuries? Now, them bozos wanna start wit us?" Rothel growled angrily, crushing his sandwich.
"Take it easy, bro. Bevelle chose to attack us on their own accord. We can't think about it like they're Zanarkand's people. That city loves war. It thrives on it. Like Areth just said, it utilizes its resources in that direction. Now, it's our turn to face off against them. Let's just try and teach them a lesson about picking on others, okay?" I appeased, trying to calm my best friend.
"Yea, you right, Tidus. So, what up wit the rest of ya?" Rothel inquired.
"Huh? Oh, like I'm paying attention to your grumbling. I'm chatting with Ju and Damu over here, bro." Kirin responded, ending with a giggle.
"Larea was just telling me about her latest Aeon." Lenne added, "That's why we weren't taking part in your discussion. I'm sorry if we missed anything important."
"Nah, you didn't miss anything except Rothel getting sandwich stuffing all over himself." I replied with a laugh.
Rothel looked to the hand that crushed his sandwich and groaned. It was smothered in all the sauces, meat, and veggies that used to reside in those two slices of bread.
"You overreact just a tad too much, but at least you can say you've got the best seasoned fist in all the land." I teased, putting out my fingers and sizing up the amount of his over-exaggerated yet decidedly delectable end result. Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
"So anyway, they took up this war on account of economic standing alone?" I asked Areth, wanting to delve deeper into the subject for a better understanding.
Kai chose to answer first, "Well, there were also rumors that Maester Mikala has some other agenda, but…"
"It's only hearsay." Areth finished.
"I see… Well, if it was something, what do you suppose it was?" I continued.
"Some say he has a plan to take over Spira… Then again, others are saying there's a secret manuscript in Zanarkand that he wants to get his hands on." Kai retorted.
"Wow, it sounds so mysterious now." I said, taking interest in the rumors.
"Well, as I said, it is only hearsay. What's important is that Bevelle is at war with Zanarkand and we need to stop them!" Areth pointed out. With nods of understanding both of us agreed.
When we left, I figured Areth and Kai would be pretty lost, what with being in Zanarkand on the same level as a tourist. They'd have to get used to the new surroundings and I figured that me and Lenne could show them around.
"So how about it? If you guys are gonna be sticking around, you might wanna get to know this place a little better, right?" I asked.
"I would love to…" Areth replied smoothly, walking next to me.
"Well, I guess if it isn't any trouble, sure! All I know is where the blitz stadium is. Six years ago, we had a game with you guys here. Unless you guys moved it, I think I can find it." Kai added.
"So you want to see the blitz stadium first?" I returned, "It's gone under several renovations over the years."
"Sure, let's check it out!" He answered.
"I could show them the Jecht Shot!" Lenne suggested to me on the side, "I don't think they'd expect me to have that ability."
"Yea! Hey, you guys are in for a treat. You know, if you want, maybe we could get in a two-on-two blitz game." I put on the table.
"That would be wonderful." Areth purred, giving Lenne that familiar smirk. I still didn't like that look of his. Something about it just sent me the wrong message regardless of his goodwill.
We got to the blitz stadium rather quickly, Kai leading the way quite confidently. "Yup, still the same place. You know, this'll be the first time Areth here's seen this. He was injured when we had that game back then." He said, recounting past years, "Poor guy, he was already practicing your Jecht Shot back then. Water under the bridge, huh?"
We entered the building and ran into that rookie I was thinking about earlier, the one who hadn't yet made it into the inner circle: Haru. "Hey there! You just finished training?" I asked him, showing a friendly face to, hopefully, ease his nerves about approaching the rest of the Abes and I.
"Uh, yea…" He stammered, glancing at Areth and then at Kai.
He must have been confused as to why two people dressed in Bevelle garb were here freely perusing Zanarkand. I think that earlier, Kirin had explained to the guy at the fast food place that they were on our side, but Haru wouldn't know anything about that, shown by his withdrawal.
"Don't worry about it. These guys are on our side now." I informed as he continued to stare.
"Yes, we're all on the same side here." Areth added smoothly, looking at Haru with a comforting gaze.
Kai had a funny look on his face, but I brushed it off as a simple case of mistaken identity. And who knows, maybe Kai had seen Haru someplace. As large as Spira was, it wasn't that big.
"Well, I don't wanna keep you. I'll see ya around, Haru." I said with a wave and proceeded to the Sphere Pool.
I hoped Haru left it on so I wouldn't have to reactivate it, but why would he. Luckily, though, the pool was up and running as I'd desired. The guy must have just forgotten to shut it off before he left. Thank you, rookie mistake.
I walked over first and noticed some clothing strewn across the floor. "Oh great… Please tell me no one is using that thing for… other… kinds… of… practice…" I groaned, looking away with a sigh.
"I think I see somebody in there. Maybe we should come back a little later." Lenne suggested, cheeks colored a beet red from the thought.
Kai and Areth just snickered and walked back out with the two of us, shoving and poking fun at each other. "Guess we'll just have to wait for them to finish." I said, hanging my head as the mental pictures complete with mental sounds started to play in my mind.
"Guess so…" Lenne followed up shyly.
Kai patted me on the back and said, "Well, seems to me, we better go somewhere a little less hardcore." I nodded with an immediate blush.
We made our way to a lounge that the guys and I usually hung around when we were done with practice or sometimes for pep talks before a really tough game. Lenne went to go change into some blitz gear so that she wouldn't get her regular stuff wet, considering it was meant for the stage, appearances, and performances, not sport. By this time, Kirin had long since gotten Lenne some new training gear so she could practice blitz without using Vena's old gear.
"So, how long you think they'll be?" Kai asked with another snicker, breaking the momentary silence since Lenne's departure.
"Please… I'd rather not think about it if you wouldn't mind." I groaned, rubbing my temples.
"Tidus, don't tell me you're a virgin. I would have never guessed it." Areth said with a wide grin, sending a cockeyed glare to hint at his impending bemusement.
I decided to spoil his fun, returning his arrogance, "Hey, I'll be a virgin that can wipe the floor with you at blitz any day!"
"Is that so?" Areth answered, returning with a smirk of his own. It was the same as always, but I guess that the guy just always smiled that way. I'd just have to get used to it.
"Me and my boy, Areth here, we'll beat you two. I mean, after all, your last victory was just a fluke." Kai chimed in.
"A fluke, eh? Lenne, we'll show them a fluke, right?" I stated, turning to her when I noticed her return. This was all familiar to me, being that a part of the Tidus personality I'd made was an extreme braggart, the kind needed for blitz.
However, Lenne wasn't one to realize this stipulation of our sport. "Uh, well, maybe…" She shyly replied.
I smiled at her naiveté. This wasn't her forte. "Eh, no problem. We'll beat them!" I continued in order to cover for her.
After a few more minutes, we finally decided that we should check up on whoever it was in the Sphere Pool and see if they were done. Kai patted me on the back while pushing me forward into the direction of the pool. I wasn't too anxious about meeting the happy couple.Well, more over, I didn't want to because I had a feeling it wasn't going to be the B-string players in there. Yup, it was going to be another Kirin episode…
"Hey T-man!" Kion said, as he put his shirt back on. My eyes were still wide from moments ago when we had just entered. Kai had shoved me straight into the guy while he was still working on putting on his boxers. Suffice it to say, I felt a strong need to shower.
"You know, the Sphere Pool isn't meant for what you were doing in there." I stammered, my cheeks faintly red as I slowly began to breath again.
"Don't worry, I cleaned my mess." He said with a chuckle. I really didn't have to know that…
Looking around for any buffer, I noticed that someone else was on the other side of the stadium and decided to get Kion's new girlfriend to come out of hiding. When I reached the other side, my jaw dropped at the sight. Vena was sitting over a few feet, pulling on her boots.
"Don't tell me…" I started.
"Yea, me and Kion are dating." She replied with a sigh.
"You and Kion? I'd never think that… and you guys… w-with the… No! Mental picture!" I shouted, smacking the side of my head to get the image of Kion and Vena together out of my mind. By the way, I was mostly joking by then, but they wouldn't have figured that out.
"Oh grow up, Tidus. You're dating that Lenne. Did you think everybody just lived by themselves and only you could find love?" She said with exasperation.
I apologized and added, "It's not that. I just never thought it would be you and Kion. The two of you are polar opposites and I just never would have coupled you two. I mean, remember how you two first met? You know, the whole, 'hey there, hot pants' and 'you're such a pig!'"
Vena got her boot on and I offered a hand. "Plus, I've never had that 'thing' with Lenne yet." I continued, while pulling her up.
"You mean to tell me that a guy like you hasn't…" She started to say, but then began to understand the look in my eyes, "Oh wow, you really haven't… Don't worry, Tidus. It should happen naturally. Besides, this means you really love this girl. I mean Rothel's got that other summoner girl… I really should get to know her a little better. Anyway, he's told me that they've never been together and you know how Rothel is." Vena said in her usual "console the poor shlub" manner. Personally, I didn't really care about that stuff. I guess that when you fake your life to so many people, it just ends up making them think you're someone you aren't.
"Anyway, about 'first impressions', they're highly overrated." She added in response to my other statement, "Well, I gotta get going. Me and Kion are checking out this new movie at the Sphere Dome."
Meeting up with Kion, the couple made their exit. I stood there for a little bit, taking in what had happened and what kind of person my friends thought of me, smiling to myself at what other possibilities they had come up with.
A few minutes later, the four of us, Areth, Kai, Lenne, and me, were swimming in the Sphere Pool. "Are you ready, Tidus?" Areth asked, smirking.
"Don't worry about me; I'm always ready." I returned, sending my own smirk his way.
The blitzball shot up through the water and both of us swam to grab it. This time, Areth got the ball. Using his quick reflexes, he rocketed towards the goal. Lenne decided to stop him in his tracks, swimming up right in front of him and trying to steal the ball. Unfortunately, her idea of stealing the ball wasn't very productive. I smiled sympathetically as she tried to lunge forward and grab the ball from Areth, the star of Bevelle maneuvering around each fruitless attempt. At least she got the guy distracted so her approach wasn't all bad. Kai tried to keep me from interfering with Areth and Lenne, but I easily moved around his block, my agility being much more honed than his. I got to Areth and, as he moved away from another of Lenne's grabs, I reached out and snatched the ball right from under his nose.
"Lenne! Show 'em what you can do!" I exclaimed, passing her the ball.
With a nod, she swam upward rapidly, spun sideways in a twirling dance, and kicked the ball at the goal. With me near Areth, I kept him from doing anything to catch the ball. However, Kai was aware of my plan and got to position just as the ball came, pegging it with a back-arm. It came toward his partner, but with me around, it was difficult for him to secure the pass and so I took the opportunity to receive the pass for him. So far, we'd been near our goal so I sent the ball soaring with a sidewinder kick, giving it all of my momentum. It sped towards the goal, but Areth had taken his open position to swim into place and catch my shot before it could collide with the field. The sheer inertia sent him back some, but his mass was enough to stop a score from being made, regardless.
"You're good Tidus, but we're no amateurs." Kai declared, swimming toward his goal and looking back for the pass.
Areth swam to a clear enough area and sent the ball on its way, finally completing a pass for his team as Kai caught it and went in for the point. Lenne followed up, again trying to grab the ball. This time, she accidentally kicked him in the gut on one of her attempts and slowed him down, the most effective unintentional tackle if I ever saw one. However, with the stamina he had, a simple kick wouldn't cause him to forfeit the possible score and he kept going, ducking under Lenne and rushing for the shot. As much as my love wanted, she couldn't stop him from getting in the first goal for the Jowile's side. The score was a 1-0 starter, their lead.
The next blitz off, Lenne took my place and Kai did the same for Areth. Surprisingly, although she was the underdog, she managed to take the ball from Kai. Of course, I think I saw Kai purposely slip-up to help level the playing field for my songstress. She swam over toward our goal as fast as she could, but Areth caught up and blocked her path. Fortunately, I was also around and made a pass right on her left side, getting the ball and slipping past the best of Bevelle.
"Too slow, Areth ol' boy." I mocked, looking back with the blitz ball outstretched to taunt.
He started coming toward me, but I tossed the ball over his head and got it back to Lenne. "Lenne! Jecht Shot!" I shouted, going back into a defensive position to keep Areth away so she wouldn't foul from his distraction.
Lenne bumped the ball with her head and soared over the Sphere Pool, starting a back-flip. She hit the Jecht Shot perfectly once more and it went sailing into our goal. Kai tried to pull off my move when I faced Areth's Jecht Shot, but on the back spin-kick, he missed the ball and it landed us a 1-1 score.
Continuing off, me and Kai were at it, going for the ball. I swatted it away and into Lenne's arms as she started swimming to the goal. I kept Kai busy, circling around him every now and then. He was too pre-occupied with me to even think about getting to my partner. Lenne somehow dodged Areth's tackle, something I was glad about. If he hit her, I'd have to kill him, this more so due to the fact that I was sure he was using a third level Venom Tackle. She got in a diagonally upward position from the goal. Areth came up from behind, but she had anticipated it, pushing her hands against his shoulders and allowing the ball to float to her feet as she did. Then, using Areth, she sprung forth and struck the ball with her legs.
"Kirin's move?" I asked no one in particular. I hadn't known that Kirin taught Lenne that move. In any case, it sunk us a second goal.
"Hey, how about one more and we call it a day?" Kai asked as the two of us watched Lenne and Areth ready themselves face-to-face, waiting for the ball to be launched.
"What, you're tired already?" I mused, smirking at him with my head held high.
"Well, I figure that being around a half hour to nine, you'd wanna call it a day." He replied.
"It's how late?" I asked, not realizing that we'd spent so much of the afternoon waltzing up to the stadium and then waiting for Kion and Vena in the lounge. Each day just passed so quickly. It was already nearing the time to pack it in.
I decided to agree with Kai and finish up the game with the next point. I noticed that Areth got the ball and was swimming towards the goal. Kai started following so I decided that I'd rather end this little game on a 3-1 rather than on a tie. Using my speed, I got in front of Areth and Lenne was slowly coming up behind Kai. While making my way in front of Areth, I grabbed the ball and started spinning it on my finger, the spin slowed by the density of the water.
"Tidus, why don't you try something original? I've seen the Jecht Shot so many times, frankly, it's become a bore to watch." Areth goaded, giving me a look of mock boredom, adding to it with a yawn.
"Oh, so you want something surprising, eh, something sublime?" I asked with a fiendish smirk, "How's about this!"
I dropped the ball and performed a typical kick. It hit straight into Kai, bounced off and came back to me. I punched it at Areth, letting it bounce off his arm and back to me. Finally, I kicked it up and corkscrewed upward.
"No, it can't be! That's your father's move! It's the Sublimely Magnificent…" Kai stammered, gawking once he got his bearings back.
"… Jecht Shot…" Areth continued, equally dazed.
I kicked the ball and it zoomed right past Areth and into the goal, "… Mark III."
The score finished at my desired 3-1 and it was time to call it a day.
"I didn't know you could do that!" Kai wowed at me as we exited the Sphere Pool.
"I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?" I replied with a smile.
"You sure are…" Areth purred, sauntering up behind us, offering me the same awkward gaze he'd given when I visited Bevelle a couple of months ago.
Lenne had gone ahead to shower and get her normal clothing back on.
"Besides, if my old man can, why shouldn't I be able to?" I challenged, wanting to know just what the big deal was about that dumb third-rate shot I pulled off from earlier.
"Well, it is the single most legendary shot to ever grace blitzball." Kai said in a very matter-of-factly tone.
"Untrue… There was another Jecht Shot that could make the ball invisible and therefore, completely unblockable." Areth corrected, looking at me from the corner of his eye.
I grunted at their conversation. Those two were just as bad as any of my dad's old fans. I mean they knew there was no Mark I or II, but they paid hundreds of thousands of gil just to make it to the games live to see if he'd use a Mark I or II. As for me, my fans come to see me because I'm the absolute best around. Even my father lost his earlier games. When I joined up at the ripe age of thirteen, the Zanarkand Abes were invincible. Of course, it wasn't all me, but I helped some. Plus, unlike my father, my performance of the Jecht Shot was never blocked. His rookie move, but it did score him a few victories early on until it was blocked, head-on, by a husky ronso, Hall of Fame goalie of the Ronso Fangs. However, the speed he got on the ball was nothing compared to the speed I could give it. In fact, his speed would probably be that of Lenne's and she's not even a blitzer.
"Well, it's getting to a quarter to ten. We should probably start looking for a hotel or something to stay at." Kai yawned, ready to wave goodbye to me and Lenne.
"Hold on a second! You guys are permanent residents to Zanarkand now. What say you stay with me for the time being? I mean, even a five star hotel can't beat a star blitzer's home, right?" I asked, looking towards Areth.
If anyone knew that, he did. I remember going to his house and seeing all that decorum. Areth's house was much flashier than mine, but regardless, the luxuries were most likely the same. "Tidus is right. My house is a lot better than even the highest quality hotels in Bevelle." He reasoned to his friend.
"Yea, but our hotels really blow." Came the response.
"Yea, well, trust me. As good as the Zanarkand hotels are, my home's accommodations are that much better." I suggested with a pat to his shoulder.
With the prodding of both his best friend and I, he shrugged and gave in. We walked Lenne back to her house and we said our goodnights. The walk back to my house was short and pretty quiet. My guess was that those two former citizens of Bevelle were a little homesick. It didn't surprise me. I don't think I'd like to be away from Zanarkand and totally abandon it to side with its sworn enemy, either.
"We're here!" I announced, displaying my home for the two of them to see.
"C'mon, I'm beat. From the battle this morning to the blitz game just an hour before, I'm really drained." I continued, taking off my shirt and heading for my shower, "You two can roam around and find any guest room that you think you'd like to stay in."
Reaching my shower, I threw my shirt into the hamper and got my pants in, too. I had an entire closet full of garments and it was about time I washed that set. I turned on the water and entered, washing my hair and such. Mostly, I was just taking a shower because those images of Kion and Vena weren't going away, and we were swimming around in the pool and all. So what if the pool had a state-of-the-art filtration system? My front was brushed up against Kion's crotch! At that lovely memory, I began to scrub more vigorously, grimacing to try and rid the vision. Once I was sure my skin was Kion-free, I took a long breath, taking in all that had happened. Sighing to collect myself, I turned off the shower, dried myself, and opened the door.
"Oh, h-hi Areth! You want to use the shower?" I asked in surprise, having not expected to open the door to anyone.
"Uh, yes. I think I am in need of some cleansing." He said, a weird smile on his face as he glanced at me. It was just strange because it was a little goofy looking, the way his eyes glimmered like a happy little boy, but reserved at the same time, his serene composure everlastingly fitted to his face.
"It's all yours." I waved, walking past him to my bedroom.
I fell asleep rather quickly, the fatigue of the day's events seeping my consciousness into the world of dreams… I found myself in Bevelle, sword in hand and in the dark. Areth was opposite me, his gunblade gleaming off the moonlight. We were face-to-face and blanketed in a light fog. Suddenly, he raised his weapon and fired one single shot at me. I lifted my arm to block the shot with my sword as I'd always done since learning the skill from Takuma, but found my own weapon had vanished. Wide-eyed, I watched the bullet enter my chest, helpless to defend myself, and spat out blood. Wincing from the pain, I sank to one knee, clutching the wound and breathing raggedly. Areth walked up to me slowly, taunting me with each agonizing step, and smirked his usual Cheshire grin. My vision began to cloud, further covering my surroundings in fog.
"I win…" Were the only words he said to me before the darkness beckoned for me to lose myself to its embrace…