A Generation of Legacies

Chapter Twenty-Four

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, X-2, or any of its characters

Last Time:

"Get back! Get back I say!"

"Make way for the high summoner!"

There was a…. a horrible, loud noise filling his ears, and it aggravated his already splitting headache. He groaned and rolled over, finding himself unable to open his eyes.

"Get out of the way!"

A hand touched him on the shoulder, and Koiray heard a soft muttering. He felt warm for only a moment when his headache suddenly lessened.

Koiray turned and opened his eyes slowly, a friendly looking face becoming his first sight. The man had neat, jet-black hair brushed back in a dignified manner with a matching shade for a thin mustache and goatee and comforting stormy gray eyes… stormy gray eyes…

"It's all right now, you're safe," the stranger said.

And then Takoire III lost all train of thought for a second time.

-------------------

A cool, damp towel was placed on his forehead, and he brought his hand up to confirm his suspicions.

"You were lucky to be found in the presence of a mage of High Summoner Kokon's caliber."

Koiray stirred and turned to the voice. "What… What happened?"

"'Tis a good question, sir," the man answered, "one that you share with everyone who was at the banquet."

He coughed. "B-Banquet? What- What banquet?"

"Maester Bevle's," the unknown man replied, a sense of disbelief traced in his voice. "One moment, all are having a good time, and then another passes, and a bright light appears in the hall, and you're there. If High Summoner Kokon hadn't been there-"

"High Summoner Kokon?" Koiray shot up.

"Why, yes. High Summoner Kokon is a gifted mage in both the disciplines of white and black magic and healed the majority of your injuries right then and there."

"I-I need to see him," Koiray stumbled. "I need to see him right now!"

The man shook his head. "High Summoner Kokon is a very busy man, and his presence is most likely required on some important matter of state."

"Please!" he continued to bed. "Please, I have to see him! My life depends on it!"

"What's this about a life depending on something?" a new voice inquired, laced with curiosity.

Two new figures had entered the room, but Koiray recognized one of them immediately. He was a tall figure dressed in some kind of summoner uniform. The cloth was a rich red with complex patterns trailing the edges. Two metal lapels of red and silver were sewn on his left shoulder while lapels of green and blue rested on the other. His jet-black hair was not quite short, but neatly kept and an equally neat goatee and mustache rested on his kind looking face.

The other figure stood behind the summoner dressed in the solid black uniform of a guardian. The summoner brand embroidered in gold was a curious character Koiray had never before seen. The man, appearing only a few years older than himself, had red hair cut in a short style so it never touched his ears, and his hazel eyes were alert with readiness.

"Kokon…" he whispered to himself.

"Lord Kokon!" the man he had been arguing with exclaimed, falling to his hands and knees on the floor in a bow.

The high summoner nodded but turned back to Koiray. "I was in the area and decided to check up on your progress. Obviously you're well if you are awake."

"He only awoke moments ago, my lord, and since he has woken, he has clamored for your presence incessantly," the servant answered.

"I see," Kokon returned. "Well, here I am. What can I help you with?"

Koiray looked at the two others nervously before speaking, trying to put on an accent as best as possible. "I… I must speak with you alone, milord."

Kokon paused and seemed to look him over. "Very well." He nodded to the servant who scrambled from the floor as well as to his guardian.

"My lord," the guardian began to argue, "I think it not wise-"

"Retig," he interrupted, "I do not think an injured man will pose much of a threat to me. You do not give me due credit. I will be fine."

The guardian bowed. "My apologies, my lord." He moved from the room, closing the door behind him.

"Now," Kokon began, "what can I help you with?"

Koiray sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I… I need to get home," he said, letting his accent drop.

"Where is it that you're from?"

"Besaid."

Kokon seemed to pause for a moment. "If that's the case, I can arrange transportation for you to Luca, and from there, you can catch another ship."

Takoire III smiled softly and shook his head. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

"How so?"

"Uh… well…" he stumbled, "because… I'm from more than a thousand years into the future…"

The high summoner's expression became blank before he let out a nervous chuckle. "Perhaps you should rest a bit longer?"

Koiray shook his head with a determined look in his eyes. "No. I'm not crazy."

Kokon paused. "All right. You're not crazy. Let us say I believe you. What makes you think that I can help you?"

"Because I know you're the Cheribum: aeon of time."

---------

Koiray sat back in his chair and let out a loud laugh. He was out later than he had expected, but it didn't matter; he was enjoying himself for the first time in what felt like ages. Although he had finished eating his meal some time ago, he had for some reason refrained from leaving.

A young woman sat across from him with an equally optimistic look on her face. Her expression grew brighter as Koiray's did.

"You have no idea how much I needed this," Koiray said in between breaths as he laughed.

She smiled softly. "You strike me as the type to take things a bit too seriously."

He sighed in good nature. "You're probably right, but what else could I do?"

"I don't know… be normal, maybe?"

"Define normal."

"Umm… how about not being the youngest champion of the tournament of guardians in history, not working more shifts than some sector commanders, or stop being such an overachiever?"

"Ouch," Koiray feigned, "that hurt."

Ahn shrugged. "It's true, isn't it? That's what you've told me. I've yet to hear you mention a time when you haven't been working or training."

Reaching for his glass of water, Koiray took a sip with a solemn expression. "I have a lot to live up to, and I have no intention of letting my family down."

"I realize the legacy you have to live up to as the son of High Summoner Lenne and Sir Takoire, as well as the sole grandchild of High Summoner Yuna and Sir Tidus, but your family really puts that much pressure on you?"

Koiray immediately moved to sit up straight. "No! Was that how I was making it sound? Cheribum, no! I love my family! They've never pushed me to do anything I haven't wanted to do in my life!"

"Then it's you, isn't it?" she asked.

"Wha-"

"You're the one putting all this pressure on yourself. Or maybe you're trying to beat someone at something?"

The young guardian flashed cold for a second before he paused to look at the young woman sitting across from him.

"Oh!" she suddenly yelled out. "That was completely inappropriate of me! I'm sorry! I didn't-"

Koiray laughed and shook his head. "No, it's fine. Don't worry about it. I'm just not used to someone being in my head like that."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"I'll get back to you on that." With a quick glance at his watch, the guardian suddenly frowned. "Whoa. Is that the time? Cheribum, I didn't realize how late it was getting."

Ahn cocked her head. "Do you need to go?"

He shrugged. "I've got advanced training first thing in the morning."

"Ah…" she nodded. "Well, I'm glad that I at least got a chance to thank you in the right way."

As the two moved to stand, Koiray looked back at Ahn in an impulsive decision. "Would you like to have dinner with me again tomorrow?"

"What?"

"You know," he said, motioning with his hands, trying to hide the fact he had suddenly become nervous, "dinner. It's where a person or a group of people eat together…"

Ahn nodded and smiled. "Sure."

Koiray smiled. "Come on. I'll walk you home."

---------

"What?" Kokon said, stepping back in shock.

Takoire III sighed and looked away. "Please, you have no idea how long I've been looking for you. I was just lucky enough to land in a time with you in it."

The high summoner tugged at his vestments uncomfortably and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

"Please! I'm begging you," Koiray burst, an air of desperation about him.

He opened his mouth although at a loss for words. "I know not what you speak of. How can you even pretend to speak such things? It's blasphemy! How could an aeon be human? The idea is preposterous!"

"It is not preposterous! It is the truth! You are the Cheribum!" Koiray threw back. "You were curious about humanity, and that's the only damn reason the aeons are known to humans!"

Kokon stood speechless, and he could no longer hide his shock. "It's not possible… It's not possible…"

Koiray grimaced as he moved to stand, moving in front of the high summoner. "I know all this because it's what my parents told me. My mom is what you call a maester and my dad was the last of your bloodline before me."

"Bloodline? What nonsense are you speaking now?"

"You're my ancestor, and I'm your descendent," Koiray answered bluntly. "The ability to go back and forth in time was passed down but didn't become active until me and my dad. Please. I want to go home."

Closing his eyes, Kokon sighed. "Sit down." Koiray complied. "Close your eyes." Without a word the Deputy Crimson Knight did so. Kokon placed a hand on Koiray's forehead and closed his own eyes. Minutes passed before Kokon withdrew his hand and stepped back. "Tell me. The time shifts… how do they happen?"

He swallowed hard. "Uh… first I start getting dizzy, then I have a blinding headache, and the next thing I know I'm in a different time."

"So you have no control over what happens or where you go?"

"No."

Kokon eyed him. "What's your name?"

"Takoire… Takoire III, actually. I was named after my dad, but everyone calls me Koiray."

He nodded. "Koiray." With a groan Kokon moved towards the door. "I am going to regret this…" he muttered to himself, opening the door. "Stay here. Rest. I'll have a hot meal sent for you."

"Wait!" the guardian called after. "Where are you going?"

"To arrange travel plans. We leave tomorrow for Besaid. Now, rest."

"But I have questions!"

Kokon turned back to Koiray. "Save them for the journey. Now, sleep!"

And then Koiray suddenly found himself in darkness.

---------

A chuckle followed him even with the quick pace at which they walked.

"You must have truly lost your patience for you to have cast a sleeping spell, Lord Kokon."

The high summoner quickly glanced back at his guardian but continued. Retig may have seemed stoic, professional, and intimidating in public, but the minute the audience disappeared, he seemed to have an opinion on everything.

"He needed rest," Kokon answered. "He was getting too worked up."

Retig continued to chuckle. "If that is how you choose to see it, my lord, but I believe the last I checked, that spell was used against fiends." Receiving no answer, the guardian continued. "So, what's this I hear about travel plans?"

"I've leaving for Besaid tomorrow morning."

"How long shall we be gone, my lord?"

Kokon stopped before a set of closed doors and nodded to the guard standing there before turning to his guardian. "You're not coming, Retig."

"My lord?"

"This is something I must take care of. I will be traveling with the stranger, and I may or may not be continuing on to the other temples."

The guardian shook his head. "Lord Kokon, this is against protocol! Not even that, it's foolish! You must let me accompany you!"

Kokon placed a hand on his shoulder. "My friend, this is a personal matter. Please, do not question me on this."

"But do you even know who this man is? We know nothing about him, only that he appeared in the banquet hall in a flash of light. He could be dangerous!"

"Retig, respect my wishes. I beg you." Kokon stopped and smiled. "Besides, my absence will give you all the time at your heart's desire to pursue ladies of court."

The red-haired guardian frowned. "My uniform is what attracts them, my lord, and I can no longer wear my uniform if I have no summoner."

"I'll be fine, but thank you for your concern."

The guard before them opened the two doors, and Kokon strode in.

An aged high summoner sat behind a desk with a tiny expression of relief written on his face as the other summoner entered.

"Ah, Kokon!"

He bowed, and Retig followed suit. "Lord Cephor."

"What can I help you with?"

Kokon straightened and looked to Master Bevle's senior most summoner. "I must take an extended leave of absence, my lord."

Cephor moved back in his chair. "I see. Can you tell me a timeframe, Kokon?"

"I cannot."

"May I at least ask what's spurring this decision?"

"It is a personal matter, my lord," Kokon continued.

The old man cocked his head. "You're acting quite curiously, Kokon. I cannot even recall you ever asking for a leave of absence before this. What is it that could pull High Summoner Kokon from Bevelle?" He remained silent. "When do you intend for your leave to begin?"

"Immediately, Lord Cephor."

"I see… Well, if that is all?"

"I would appreciate if you would arrange a ship to take me to Besaid from Luca."

"Besaid?" Cephor questioned. "An interesting choice for a destination… very well. Consider it done."

-------------------

Author's Notes: It's been a little bit since I last updated, and I apologize. I've been extremely busy with school and forensics that I've completely lost track of things lately. I hope you're enjoying this new development, especially since the stormy gray-eyed newcomer's identity was revealed to us all. Leave me a review and tell me what you think! R&R