Chapter 25

His consciousness returned to him quicker than he had anticipated. The people around him stared with fear into his wide open eyes he could tell that they didn't expect him to wake up anytime soon. He gritted his teeth, feeling the fangs grow and snarled at them.

The doctors backed up in fright and Tidus strained against his chains. They cracked under the pressure and with an almighty roar he broke them. The people screamed and ran to the exit, trying to escape their obvious demise but Tidus wouldn't have that.

They kept him from his Summoner! He had to kill them for that! His instinct told him clearly. In a speed the humans could never match he landed at the door and cut of their escape route. One unfortunate ran directly into his clawed hand. Tidus smirked at him evilly and crushed his neck into bits and pieces.

The others screamed out in fear and tried to scramble away, searching for anything that they could use as a weapon. Tidus lowered his hands to the ground so he was on all fours and felt his fingers grow together to form paws.

His completely red eyes caught the sight of black fur covering his skin that spiked clearly and was dangerous to touch. He felt the familiar feeling of his growing limbs and cracked his neck impatiently for the transformation to finish. In the meantime his soon-to-be victims found themselves something that could be counted as weapons.

Curling his toes lightly he heard the scratching of his claws over metal and swished his tail behind him in satisfaction when his transformation was finally completely. He had difficulty fitting into the room and growled unhappily. Baring his teeth he lunged at the people left into the room.

They screamed in fright and tried their weapons at him but they simply broke off at his dark Aeon body. The first one Tidus got he crushed between his fingers, his crying stopping rather fast. His eyes snapped to the others and gleamed almost hungrily. They had backed up in a corner and were trembling pathetically.

"Please, mercy!" One of them pleaded but Tidus would have none of that. He went up to them and simply crushed their weak human bodies under his paw. Without their screaming and shivering the room turned early silent.

It was agony to be in the dark Aeon form and robbed him almost of every coherent thought. Acting purely on instinct he turned to the door, feeling the great urge to be free of this suffocating prison. He needed space and fresh air! Roaring he rammed into the wall and felt it break under his power.

The guards standing at the door were immediately squished under it and couldn't even yelp in surprise before they died. Tidus' frantic eyes looked around. Endless corridors opened in front of his orbs and simply ran in one direction without any reason behind it. Something coherent inside him told him that he had to get up somehow.

Guards that crossed his way were simply either crushed under his paws or by his fangs. Blood clung to his fur and tainted it a dark red, making him look even more menacing. Finding stairs he rushed them upward his tail hitting the wall and breaking pieces from the wall.

The complex started to shake dangerously. He had to have hit a supporting beam or something. Alarm sirens sounded through the corridors and gave even more people reason to rush on the corridors. Most of them didn't have much time to see him because Tidus crushed them before they could.

But to his luck they showed him in which direction the exit was. He roared loudly in triumph and sped up. In no time he could see the light streaming from an opening and the relieved voices of humans. Without any further delay he jumped out and landed with a menacing snarl between the people outside.

They shouted in surprise and some guards who made it pointed their weapons at him. "The Fayth broke free! Catch him or the Leader will get a fit!" One of them with fancier armor screamed and opened fire. Tidus hissed when the bullets hit him and made small dents in his fur. He growled and turned to them with demonically glowing eyes.

The dark Aeon smelled the fright of the people and reveled in it. Soon their screams of agony echoed over the plains of the small isle they were on and died forever. With an almighty roar Tidus turned around after he had crushed these small humans and jumped on the entrance of the underground complex they held him in.

It crumbled easily under him and would forever take the humans inside with it. Never again would someone be tortured or held against his will down there. Never would any secrets of theirs leave this place.

Tidus impatiently ran around the isle he was on and tried to determine where he was. Nothing but the deep Spiran ocean was around him. He growled and sat down, staring at the distant horizon. What should he do? His tail was impatiently swishing behind him. What could he do?

Summoner. His instinct told him. He had to find his Summoner. Unable to resist the urge he jumped up and felt for the bond he knew existed between them. He could almost make out how she winced in the distant when his raw and untamed mind touched hers. The few coherent thoughts he had left stopped him in his tracks in guilt. He hurt her.

The dark Aeon's tail stopped to swish and his ears dropped. His Summoner was hurt. That thought let his instincts roar up again anew. He had to protect his Summoner! He couldn't let his Summoner be hurt!

Howling he jumped on the ocean and ran in the direction he felt her presence. Water rippled violently under his large paws and soaked his whole form.

The closer he got to her, the stronger he felt her reassuring presence. It had a positive effect on his instinct driven mind and gave room for coherent thoughts. The wild, demonic look left his eyes and a tinge of blue returned to the orbs.

His stride calmed a bit and he took a deep breath, catching a faint waft of his Summoner's reassuring scent. He caught sight of a small boat swaying gently in the wind and slowed down a bit. His eyes returned to their normal blue color when he saw his Summoner.

Through their bond he could detect her disbelief at seeing him just appearing out of nowhere and her small doubt that it was even him. She never had seen him in his dark Aeon form and he really never planned to show her but she was the only one who would be able to cancel the transformation before it was too late.

He doubted he had the strength to do it himself and he really didn't want to experiment any more than he had already. It could only end badly.

He could already feel the strain it had on his body and his energy leaving him. There may even remain permanent damage from this. Pushing this thought aside for the moment he slowly trotted up to the small boat she stood on with wide eyes.

Tidus lowered his snout and whimpered lightly. If in apology or pain he wasn't sure himself. Lenne barked at him and jumped next to Yuna. Tidus looked at the small dog and could tell that she would protect her master if needed. She didn't recognize him. He couldn't blame the puppy. Under all the blood…

"Tidus? Is that you?" Yuna asked tentatively and examined him closer in worry. Tidus gazed at the beautiful young woman and felt calmer by her mere presence. But his mind was still too chaotic and instinct driven to communicate with her mentally. Instead he simply nodded and whimpered again.

Yuna hesitated for a second before she reached forward with her hand. Tidus lowered his head so she could touch his snout more easily. Her gentle and warm fingers pressed lightly against his fur and she winced mildly when she could her fingertips a bit. Tidus would have ripped his snout away in guilt if it hadn't hurt her only more.

"What happened to you?" She murmured absentmindedly. Tidus whimpered again and this time he knew it was in agony. His muscles burned from the strain of the transformation and his Pyreflies protested. Soon he wouldn't be able to turn back and remain the beast he was now.

He sank down and felt one of his paws sink through the water he stood on in his weakness. Yuna's eyes gleamed in alarm. "You've been too long in this!" She said panicked more as a statement than as a question. Without further pause she turned around and got her staff.

Tidus had a hard time keeping consciousness. His Pyreflies inside began to accept the new body and that was an exhausting and extremely painful process. His mind couldn't take it. He would have pleaded Yuna to hurry if he could.

Quickly she turned back to him and swung her staff in the canceling motion. His Pyreflies didn't take that well. He growled in agony and tried to guide them in the right direction. They were not pleased and vehemently fought against the canceling of the transformation.

Yuna watched him with fearful eyes and could already see the resignation that made her shoulders slump. She thought something along the line that it wasn't working.

With the last energy reserves he could find in him he made the Pyreflies obey the will of his Summoner and felt his body shift back to his human form. He wasn't able to keep on water this way and would have immediately sunk under if Yuna hadn't caught his organic arm.

She gasped when she tried to lift his weight out of the water. "Why are you so heavy?" Yuna gasped and desperately tugged at him, being pulled down herself. The Machina arm, Tidus remembered darkly. It was heavy like hell and he doubted that she could lift him out herself. He would die and she would blame herself. She would be sad.

He couldn't let her be sad.

Tidus gasped in pain when he grabbed onto the boat and helped her haul him up into it. With a loud thud he landed inside it and simply lay down with his face for a second. All his energy was zapped from him and his muscles burned at the slightest move. He just wanted to sleep and rest.

Yuna's silky hands carefully turned him around and stroked his hair out of his bloody face. "Tidus?" She asked gently and brushed her fingers over his cheek. He grimaced and slowly opened his heavy lids. Worry and relieve of seeing him again were clearly traceable on her face. If he had been in a better condition she probably would have slapped him first and then embraced him tight.

"Sorry that I was gone so long. Couldn't even get you a gift." Tidus said hoarsely his voice cracking at some points. Yuna didn't seem to be amused that much. "You can't feel that bad if you can joke already." She said half humored, half serious.

Tidus chuckled a bit and regretted it the next second when a sharp pain ran through him. "Ahh, don't make me laugh. Hurts like hell." Yuna sighed at his response and gently brushed some dirt and blood from his face. "I guess you are not able to talk that much right now. I question you later. Sleep now. You need it." Tidus nodded at her gentle but firm order and closed his eyes.

The last thing he heard before drifting into a for once dreamless sleep was her rummaging around on the small boat and muttering under her breath that it would be better to turn back around now. Besaid was still closer.

Whatever he lay on was quite comfortable not like the cell he had been in for who knew how long. Smiling contently he snuggled deeper into the soft something. A bed maybe? Something suddenly brushed over his hand that was hanging over the edge of the soft mattress he concluded and woke him from his blissful half-sleep. He chuckled involuntary at the rather yucky feeling.

Groggily his eyes opened and looked at his small attacker. Lenne looked cutely at him with her puppy dog eyes and hanging tongue. He smiled at the dog and tried to pet her with his hand but as soon as he moved his arm pain shot through it and forced him to abandon his intention. Tidus grimaced and closed his eyes for a second when he felt sick all the sudden.

Bile began to rise in his throat and he had a hard time to fight the urge to throw up. When he felt his stomach settle again he relaxed and turned his head to look at the confused dog. "Sorry, can't move much right now." He mumbled apocalyptically. Even the small action of turning his head made him feel sick again.

He groaned and let his eyes wander around as much as he could manage. Tidus immediately recognized his surrounding as Yuna's and his tent. He was back in Besaid.

How long had he been out? He frowned at the thought. Was the fighting over already?

He was a bit miffed at that. It was not like he enjoyed it too much but the thought of him missing it all was disappointing. He wanted to help his friends. Sleeping through it was no option. He had to get better as fast as he could. Problem was that he couldn't even stand up without vomiting on the spot.

Tidus frowned at his misfortune and stared intensely at the ceiling, trying to come up with a solution. He tried to move his Machina arm but it was still not functioning. Not even his finger twitched.

His frown deepened and he scowled a bit. He was useless and he hated to be useless.

The scrunching footsteps indicated someone was coming. Tidus listened intently to the ever nearing person. Light and careful footsteps he noted, even more careful than usual. That could only be Yuna.

The fabric of the flap at the entrance made a shuffling noise when she pushed it aside and stepped inside. She was carrying a pot pressed to her side. Food was inside, he guessed. She placed the pot on the ground in the kitchen area and noticed Lenne sitting on the ground next to where Tidus lay on the bed.

"I've forbidden you to come here, Lenne! Out!" She said sternly and pointed at the entrance of the tent. The puppy's ears dropped and she whimpered slightly. "No! Out!" She said again a tad more sternly than before. Lenne whimpered again but followed this time the order and left the tent.

Yuna looked satisfied for a second and stated to turn around to the pot again when her eyes fell on him. A slow smile spread over her soft lips and she discarded her former intended action in favor of walking up to the bed he lay on, kneeling down next to it.

"You are awake." She said in a relieved voice and brushed back his bangs. Her fingertips brushed against his forehead in the process and sent a small tingle down his spine. It was so long since he felt her soft touch upon his skin.

For a few seconds he just enjoyed the sight of her pretty face hovering above him but when he saw it contort into a worried expression, he decided he had to say something. "You know I like my beauty sleep." He joked lightly.

Yuna simply rolled her eyes at his comment and carefully sat down close to his waist on the bed. Her hand reached for his and she gently intertwined their fingers. Tidus happily let her do that even if the small movement called forth nausea again. The warmth and comfort her touch brought him was definitely worth it.

"How are you feeling?" She asked and her concerned gaze wandered over his face. "To tell you the truth terrible. Every little movement hurts and makes me feel sick. Even talking hurts." Yuna nodded thoughtfully and gave his hand a little squeeze. "The doctor said that was to be expected."

Tidus raised an eyebrow at her words. "Eh?" He made in confusion. She smiled patiently at him. "Whatever they gave you wherever you were, were some serious drugs that give your body a hard time to get rid of…and the overly long Aeon transformation was not very good as well. It will take some time for you to heal, meaning no standing up or moving around." The last part she said a bit threateningly.

Tidus looked sheepish back at her. "Fine. I understand." He hesitated to ask what was on his mind next. "How long was I gone and out?" She looked down at the question and bit her lip uncomfortably. "About two months." She finally answered him after a long while of silence and refused to meet his gaze.

Tidus took a sharp intake of breath. This long. He glanced down and noticed that she was showing. She even had to discard her normal Gunner outfit for wider clothes. Yuna wore a simple white top and a blue skirt that reminded him of the one she wore on her pilgrimage. Simple sandals were at her feet like many people of the village had.

Tidus gently separated their fingers and placed his hand upon her slightly round stomach. He felt like throwing up again but ignored it for the moment and enjoyed the sensation of his fingers upon the place where their child grew. Yuna giggled slightly when she saw his fascinated his expression.

"It's only a stomach, Tidus." She said in amusement, completely forgetting her former distress. Tidus flashed her one of his dazzling grins. "It's the stomach where our child grows." He said pointedly. Yuna smiled beautifully at his excitement. "You are right." She said and placed her hand upon his on her stomach.

They remained in comfortable silence for awhile longer. Tidus just basked in Yuna's loving presence and the wonder about the life that grew inside of her. He was startled when she suddenly spoke again.

"Do you remember anything of what happened to you?" She asked timidly and reluctantly as if she didn't want to know. Tidus looked up at her face again and frowned deeply. He dug into his memory and tried to come up with anything of his capture but it all seemed fuzzy from the moment he woke up there. Tidus knew there was something important he should remember but it just wouldn't come to him.

"Not really." He replied in defeat. It was no pleasant experience but that he had no memory at all of it bothered him. Yuna nodded in understanding, looking thoughtful again. "The doctor mentioned that as well, saying that it was possible that due to the drugs and the strain of the transformation your brain had suffered somewhat but only the memory part." Tidus saw the relief in her eyes that he hadn't suffered more permanent damage from his capture.

"How is…the fighting going?" Tidus asked after another small pause. It bothered him greatly and he really couldn't hold it back any longer. Yuna sighed and gently placed his hand back on the bed he laid on, squeezing his fingers. He felt a bit dizzy from the forced movement.

"They are in a standstill in the moment." Yuna said her gaze on the floor. She fiddled lightly with the ends of her top and only threw from time to time a glance at him to gauge his reaction. "In the time you were gone an army tried to attack Bevelle but Baralai, Nooj and Gippal managed to stop them in the Calm Lands and since then there is not much movement. Sometimes it seems like one of the two armies wins the upper hand over the others but nothing really comes of it. There were some attacks on Bevelle and Luca. Someone even tried to destroy the stadium in Luca with a bomb. It was horrible. But Rikku and Paine stopped it before something happened."

Tidus nodded slowly and watched her carefully if something there was more but when she said nothing more for a few minutes he spoke up. "I see." Suddenly Yuna stood up and sternly looked down on him.

"You are not going anywhere, Tidus. You will stay here and let others handle it. This war is no concern of ours anymore." She said sharply and with furiously gleaming eyes. "Yuna…" Tidus began about to protest against it but she shook her head fiercely.

"No. There is no arguing about that, Tidus." He clamped his mouth shut. The way she said it was final and in a tone of voice he never heard from her before. He couldn't quite detect how many emotions were conveyed in it.

Tidus silently watched her walk back into the kitchen area and open the pot on the ground. For a few seconds he enjoyed the sight of her backside bent over before he slapped himself mentally. She was hurt emotionally in so many ways that he would have a hard time fixing it but until he had she was right.

When the pain vanished from her eyes then he would argue again.