25 I Promise

Excitement danced in my chest. I was actually able to be distracted from the rest of life-death, for the time being. It wasn't because of simply being about to watch a live, professional blitz game, it was because of who was going to perform in it: Tidus. I could hardly wait to see a real Zanarkand player perform.

He swam out to Wakka's left, and the game began. In the first minute, Tidus scored a goal, but the Goers clearly became angry and aggressive. When they got the ball, a vicious shot was made to Wakka's midsection. "OH! He'll feel that one in the morning!" The announcers annoying voice blasted through the loudspeaker as Wakka keeled forward clutching his ribcage. He drew in a painful breath, sucking in the sphere pool's water.

The game kept going, however; blitzball can become a brutal sport. Tidus was close to Wakka, and he grabbed the suffocating man and pulled him to the exit. The other Aurochs were distracted; about to abandon the game to follow. Tidus waved his hand back at them in a motion that meant to stay in.

I rose and ran to the locker rooms to help Wakka, but a security guard stopped me. "I'm going to have to ask you to stop, M'lady." "But my friend's hurt!" I pleaded, but he stood firm. "M'lady, no one is permitted to pass in or out of the locker rooms until the end of the game. Not even Summoners." "But-" I began again, but he broke in. "M'lady, players get hurt all the time. I'm sure your friend will be fine. If you continue to try to get in, I will call more security and we will lock you up until the end of the game."

I turned my eyes downward before spinning on my heel and going back to my seat between Lulu and Kimahri. I waited anxiously for Wakka or Tidus' reappearance, barely noticing the game underway. They didn't show the entire game, and the Aurochs lost miserably; 9 to 1. As soon as the end whistle blew, I got up and ran through the crowd to the locker rooms.

The guard let me pass, and I entered room zero. Wakka was lying on a soaking wet bench, Tidus was in the process of wrapping up his ribcage with a roll of brown cloth. Wakka was heaving and coughing, and cringing in pain from the pressure on his ribs. Tidus turned his head when I opened the door, his eyes lighting up. "Yuna! Good, can you heal him? He has two cracked ribs, and he can barely breathe." "Yes." I went over to him and placed my hands over his ribcage. I prayed, but it wasn't working.

I continued asking for healing, but Yevon didn't answer. I became fearful that for some reason Yevon had become angry with me, but at that moment, a sharp pain seized my upper body. It left me instantly, and Wakka let out a breath of relief before gasping in another. I smiled in solace, know that Yevon had not disowned me.

Lulu and Kimahri burst in, both relaxing as they saw the three of us there, well and alive. Wakka smiled pathetically at Lulu, and then the Aurochs meandered in with downcast expressions, towels hanging off their shoulders. "We lost." Datto muttered as he plopped down next to the now healed Wakka. Botta hung his head dejectedly. "One to nine…" Wakka made a face and cursed under his breath, something about the Al Bhed.

"The next game'll be start'n soon. We might as well watch. Wanna see the address of the Grand Maester at the end." Wakka stood and brushed off the failure. "But, boys, before that, I gotta talk to ya." Tidus, Lulu, Kimahri and I all left the room, letting Wakka have some time with his team, soon to be ex-team. We went back to the stands and sat down, the game just starting. Tidus looked at me perplexed. "Yuna, what's so bad about the Al Bhed?"

I took a second to formulate my answer. "Um, I guess that because they use the forbidden machina, many believe that they are the reason Sin keeps coming back, but…I don't know if that's right…I hope it's not." He looked down at his hands. "Oh…well, there were these Al Bhed that saved my life when I first came to Spira. They took me on their ship, even gave me food. I think they're um…well, gone."

I was pretty sure he meant dead. "What happened?" He tilted his head slightly to the side, as if contemplating the event. "Sin came up near our ship. Somehow I made it out okay, but, I don't know what happened to them…" A worried curiosity arose in me. "Was-was there anyone called Cid on that ship?" He shook his head slightly. "I don't know. They were all speaking that Al Bhed language…" There was a short silence between us, though there was a deafening roar through the crowd as they cheered for something happening in the game.

"So, who's Cid?" Tidus' tone was almost wary. "He's my uncle, but I've never actually met him." After about a second, understanding and surprise registered on his face. "Oh…wait. You're Al Bhed?" It was my turn to stare at my hands. "On my mother's side, yes. Cid is my mother's brother. He became distant after my mother married. But, she told me to seek him out if I ever needed help." Tidus nodded slowly. "You're worried he was…?"

The question didn't need to be finished. I hadn't realized that Lulu had been listening to the conversation. "Don't tell Wakka about Yuna's lineage." She commanded him with a threatening air in her voice. We sat disinterestedly for the rest of the game, unable to think of anything else to say. The Goers won, no surprise there. Just as the game ended, suddenly dozens of fiends materialized all over the stadium, Sahigins attacking the blitzers still in the sphere pool.

Thousands of people were running for their lives, trampling each other, being attacked and mauled by the attacking fiends. I wanted to summon, but I had to keep moving to avoid being killed. Lulu shot different elements at fiends, but she once missed and struck a person. Tidus traveled in front of me, brandishing his sword.

If it hadn't been for him, I probably would have been killed beneath the feet of the fleeing people. Suddenly, a roar erupted from the high balcony directly below it floated a monstrous aeon. It was indescribable. It had huge teeth, scales, and wings. Its arms were crossed over its chest, and chains bound its entire body.

Maester Seymour stood in the balcony above it, arms outstretched. The Aeon shrieked and its body quaked as the fiends burst into swarms of pyreflies. It only took a few seconds for all of them to disintegrate. When people realized that there was no more threat, they began to help each other.

I saw a man in a red cloak walking away from the scene. I instantly recognized him as my father's guardian, Auron. "Sir Auron!" I exclaimed, while at the same time, Tidus shouted in astonishment, "Auron!" Sir Auron didn't stop, he didn't even glance our way. I shouted over the din at Tidus. "Can you follow him? I need to help these people!" He nodded, and ran off through the crowed after the man in red. I spent the next hour healing the wounded with Lulu and Kimahri protecting me.

I pushed through the clustered people, questions plagued my mind. I knew Auron should be able to answer them. Why am I here? How did I get here? How do I get home? Then, I wondered if I really would go home, if I could. I found that in the short time I had been here, I had grown to almost…love Spira in a strange way…at least, I pitied them enough to want to help.

And, I had to admit, I had already grown rather fond of Yuna. But as I got closer to Auron, anger filled my mind. Everything was fine back in Zanarkand! How could he do this to me? I chased Auron down, and caught up to him easily once we got out of the crowd. We arrived at the dock right outside the blitz stadium, and that's when I just about exploded.

"All of this is your fault!" I shouted, not even sure what I was saying. "Gettin' swallowed by Sin! Not being able to get back to Zanarkand! The times I almost died! Everything! Everything! I'm telling you, it's all your fault!" He just chuckled like an idiot. My anger was gone, my rant was finished. Only questions remained. "Who are you, anyway? You knew my old man, didn't you?"

He turned his face away from me. "Yeah." I stared until I felt I could bore a whole through his back. "And…you also knew Yuna's father…?" He gave a slight nod. "That is correct." I shook my head back and forth, unbelieving. "There is no way! This is impossible!" In his calm, agitating way, he replied, "Nothing is impossible about it. Jecht, Braska and I, together we defeated Sin ten years ago. Then I went to Zanarkand…where I watched over you. So that one day I could bring you to Spira."

I looked down, squeezing my fists. "Why did it have to be me?" He was silent for a brief moment. "Jecht asked me to." Come to think of it, that was a rather obvious answer. That old man always wanted to make my life miserable. I figured getting angry would only make Auron laugh again, so I tried to control myself.

"Is he alive?" Auron turned to face me, looking straight at me. "It depends on what you mean by 'alive.' He is no longer human. But then…I felt something of Jecht there in that shell, couldn't you? You must have felt him when you came in contact with Sin." I hated to admit it, but I had heard his voice. I still didn't want it to be true. "It can't be…" Auron's expression hardened. "It is. Sin is Jecht."

My mind was spinning in all directions; my life was just getting crazier and crazier. "No!" I yelled right in his face. "That's ridiculous! No way! I don't believe you!" Auron brushed my off and began to walk away. "But it is the truth. You'll see for yourself. Come with me." I didn't want to see it, I wanted to run from the truth, but deep inside, I knew I couldn't. "And if I say no?" I challenged. "Come or don't come. It's your decision." His voice was angeringly indifferent.

"What am I supposed to say?" I shouted after him. "You tell me it's my decision, but I don't have a choice, do I? You're the only one who can tell me what's going on anyways! I have to go with you!" Auron kept walking. "Irritating, I know. Or are you afraid?" It was true, I was very afraid, but I wasn't about to tell Auron that. I just wanted him to give me answers. "Auron…Will I ever go home? Back to Zanarkand?" Auron began to blend into the crowd. "That's up to Jecht." Then I knew I would never go back home. It hit me like a wrecking ball.

My eyes stung, I couldn't handle this new life I'd been tossed into. My face twisted in anger and sorrow, but I knew I couldn't do anything now but go with Yuna. Being with her was the only way I could stay sane in this completely insane world. I knew she was going to some highroad, Wakka told me that Summoners and guardians traveling on the highroads were not allowed to speak the whole time.

He said it took weeks to travel a highroad. Sounds miserable, but I couldn't just stay here. I could join a blitz team, but blitz was beginning to seem rather meaningless. So, I turned to a young woman. "Hey, do you know how I can get to the highroad?" She smiled and swept her hair out of her face, a tiny giggle escaping her mouth. "Y-yes! It's just up there the staircase behind the blitz stadium, at the edge of the city." She pointed me in the right direction. "Thanks." I did the prayer gesture, the victory sign in Zanarkand.

I didn't feel victorious at all, though. I rushed through the crowd, hoping that I wouldn't miss them. Sadness at all that had happened and was happening was tugging at my chest, but I didn't have time to revel in my sorrow. When I reached the stairs, I was surprised to see Auron right at their foot. "Come. I'm going to offer my services to Yuna."

I wasn't sure whether to be glad or annoyed that I would have to travel the entire journey with this man, but it seemed that I had no choice.

I was speaking with my guardians, wondering if Tidus had decided to stay back in Luca because of Sir Auron. The idea of it was greatly disappointing, Tidus was the only person who could make me feel even a little happy. He made me smile, thinking of Zanarkand. I was about to go back down to Luca and search for him, also so that I could maybe talk to Sir Auron.

I didn't have to go find them, though. Just as I was about to leave, I saw Sir Auron approaching us, Tidus meandering behind him. Wakka let out an awed, "Whoa…" and I was so surprised, the only thing I could think to say was, "Sir Auron?" He nodded curtly. "Yuna. I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept?" "You serious?" Wakka half-stammered. Auron's eyes half closed. "You refuse?" I jumped in before he left. "No, no! I accept! Right, everyone?"

"Yes!" Wakka said in reverent enthusiasm. Lulu was not so impressed. "But…why?" She asked the man. "I promised Braska." A bitter-sweet feeling rose in me. My father knew I would do this. I bowed. "Thank you, Sir Auron." He didn't bother saying 'You're welcome.' All this time, Tidus. Had been standing behind Auron, his head hanging, face sorrowful. Auron grabbed his arm and pulled him to the center of the group. "And, he comes too." Tidus hardly even looked up.

"This one I promised Jecht." His statement presented the opportunity for my burning question. "Is Sir Jecht alive?" Auron didn't seem like he cared in the slightest. "Can't say. Haven't seen him in ten years." He said indifferently. He proceeded to ignore me, and I said to the air, "I...see..." Tidus looked at me sadly. "Hey, come with me." He followed me to the edge of the huge stone balcony overlooking Luca. "Watch!"

I did my best at the whistle, which I had practiced all morning while the blitzers warmed up for the game. "You got pretty good." He said dolefully. "You seem sad." I stated the obvious, hoping he would explain. He offered me nothing but, "Yeah, maybe." I remembered Lulu telling me about his display at the Kilika temple. "Wanna scream?" I asked sympathetically. "I really don't think that's gonna help this time." He mumbled. T

here was a quiet moment, both of us thinking of the sorrows of life. "You know what?" I said softly. "It's embarrassing to say this myself... But summoners and their guardians are kind of like Spira's ray of light. A lot of people in Spira depend on us. I learned to...practice smiling when I'm sad...I know it's hard, but..." I left off, not knowing what to say after that.

"Yeah... I understand...I think." he dejectedly kicked at a pebble. " "Right, now, try it!" I smiled up at him, trying to be enthusiastic. "Huh?" He looked at me confusedly. "Come on!" He relented, trying to forced his face into a grin. He ended up pinching his cheeks to make something resembling one. He let go, obviously wanting to end this. "This is weird!" He whined.

"Next, try laughing out loud!" I wasn't done, though. "What?" He asked incredulously. "Come on, show me!" I wasn't going to let him back out. He took a good long moment to just stare at my face before yielding again. He belted about a hefty, albeit cheesy bout of laughter. He took in a second breath and let out another string of laughs.

I began to realize that my other guardians probably noticed, and who knows what they're thinking. "You probably shouldn't laugh anymore." I said. He looked at me and smiled. An unspoken understanding passed between us, and we both sucked in deep breaths, and let them out in fake laughter. Eventually, the situation itself became so funny that both of us actually began to laugh for real, our sadness was temporarily eased.

Once our sides hurt, we eventually ran out of laughs, and stopped to look at each other. "Um...thank you. I want my journey to be full of laughter." I told him sincerely. He nodded. "Okay." I looked out over the city of Luca. "If we should get separated, just whistle. I'll come running. I promise." Now we had a mutual promise. It seemed special, somehow.

We turned back to the other guardians, and all of them were staring at us. Tidus held his hands out at his sides and asked almost jokingly, "What're you looking at?" Wakka's eyebrows remained raised. "We were just worried you guys might've gone crazy!" I shook my head and smiled. Then I looked at Tidus, remembering a very important detail. "Oh, and um, we are about to go onto a highroad. When on a pilgrimage, Summoners and their guardians are not allowed to speak at all. If we do, Yevon will disown us."

"Yeah, Wakka told me. Sounds weird." I covered my mouth. "Don't say that!" I looked around, hoping no one had heard him. "Don't insult Yevon!" "Sorry, sorry…" he mumbled, appearing genuinely sorry. I hoped Yevon would forgive that. I looked around at my guardians. "Well, this will be the last time we speak for weeks…does anyone have anything to say?" They all shook their heads. "Well, then. Let's go."

TidusxYuna Always