Everyone turned around to the portal and gasped. A ghostly figure of an Einstein look-alike tried to walk through the portal to Spira.

"Lord Jyscal!" A Guado asked in disbelief.

"Lord Jyscal!" Another cried out.

"Who's Lord Jyscal?" I quietly asked myself.

It wasn't a few seconds after I had spoken that I remembered the man was the leader of the Guado. He was also the father of Seymour.

The ghost managed to grunt out something as he stretched his hands out of the portal. Pyreflies surrounded his see-through form.

"It does not belong here." Auron said.

"Why?" Yuna asked.

Good question. I guess if I were dead I would want to come back to life, too.

"Yuna, send him." He commanded.

She nodded her head and began to walk back up the steps to Jyscal. As she pulled out her staff, I noticed Auron fall to his knees as he made a painful sound. A few pyreflies flew around his body.

My eyes went wide. What was happening?

"Lord Jyscal..." Yuna started.

But Lulu only interrupted her. "He is Lord Jyscal no more. Send him now!"

She lifted her staff above her head and began to twirl it around. As soon as it had started, it was over and Jyscal collasped in a wave of pyreflies. But as he fell, a small blue disk dropped onto the ground.

"Is that a CD?" I asked myself out loud.

Luckily, Yuna had grabbed it without anyone noticing. Anyone, but me.

Auron had found strength to get back on his feet. I don't think he noticed that I had seen his little incident. "Talk later. We leave now." He said gruffly.

We all gathered into our little group and left the Farplane area and walked back down the tunnel to Guadosalam. I stayed relatively quiet as everyone else discussed what had happened.

"Wh...what was that just now? That really Lord Jyscal?" Wakka asked.

"I don't understand how a man like Lord Jyscal could die and not be sent." Yuna said.

"I would think that he was sent once... but he stayed on Spira. Something, a powerful emotion could have bound him to this world. Such things happen." Lulu added.

"That's against the rules, isn't it?" Rikku asked.

"It means he died an unclean death." Auron said.

I would say the same thing about you, Auron. But knowing myself, I stayed quiet. I didn't want anyone to know what I had seen. Tidus was also being pretty quiet. I wonder what was going through his mind.

As we made our way back to the manor, we all stood outside and looked at Yuna.

"I will go... meet with Maester Seymour." She said uneasily.

I would have offered to go with her, but maybe she had to do this alone. I was also pretty curious as to what she grabbed from Jyscal when he collapsed.

Before she walked into the manor, Auron called to her. "Yuna! Jyscal is the Guado's problem, not yours."

She nodded to him and turned back to the manor, but she didn't move.

"Riley?" She asked.

I walked over to her. "Yes?"

"Will you come with me?" She asked me.

I was hoping she would ask me to come with me. She needed protection from Seymour and his creepy, long fingernails. Actually, I was hoping she would ask anyone to go with her. Anyone, except for Tidus that is.

"Of course. Let's go." I said, linking my arm with hers.

We pushed open the doors to the manor and walked inside.

TIDUS' POV

I watched as Riley walked arm in arm with Yuna into the manor. I didn't like the thought of them being alone with Seymour one bit, but I had no choice.

Riley could protect Yuna on her own, but I wasn't worried about Yuna. Even though I'm her guardian, I still worry about Riley more.

I'm not sure why, but I'm always looking out for her. I guess it's because I care about her and I don't want to see her hurt.

After the girls left, everyone went their seperate ways. I followed Lulu. Hopefully she could shed some light on this situation.

"Umm..." I started.

"What?"

I decided to ease into the conversation. "So, Lulu, what do you think about Yuna getting married?"

"As long as the pilgrimage continues, either way's fine."

"That's it? What if she doesn't even like the guy? Is that okay?" I asked.

Call me old fashioned, but you should marry for love and only love. Not for some arranged type of thing or because it's what others want.

"People marry for many reasons." She said.

She was only proving my point in her own way. But I couldn't really understand what she was trying to say.

"What's that mean?" I asked.

"Sometimes marriage doesn't require love, you know? Defeat Sin, and bring joy to the people of Spira. Get married, and bring joy to the people of Spira. For Yuna, they're just two ways down the same road. All you need is determination. If you have that, you don't need love."

I groaned slightly. "I don't know... I just don't get it."

She started to leave, but I followed her again. I was actually going to ask her about our next stop, but she started talking about marriage again.

"Listen. If Yuna gets married, then I..."

"What? That again?" I asked.

She sighed. "Yes. If she is to marry, I would want her to marry for love."

So she proved me right!

"See?" I asked. I was actually half-right for once!

"But... If Yuna said she wanted to marry the one she loves. I would have to object."

"Huh? Uh... You're not making much sense."

It was true. Lulu made as much sense as a talking rock to me.

"I know." She said.

Was she doing this on purpose?

"Lulu..."

"I've talked enough about that." She said quickly.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, just forget about it."

"Geez! Grumpy!" I said.

"You'll understand one of these days. I just don't want to give it words. Not yet."

She began to walk away again, but she stopped and turned back around.

"I shouldn't have to say this, but don't fall in love with her." She told me.

There they were. The words I've been waiting to hear. Ever since this pilgrimage started, I've seen the way Yuna looks at me. Supposedly, I've been giving some of it back. But I just don't see how I am!

I barely talk to Yuna and when I do, I'm just trying to be nice. I'm really not interested in her. And I'm actually kind of happy she's going to marry Seymour.

She's just marrying him for all the wrong reasons.

But I've been getting this vibe that says, "You have to like her if she likes you back because she's a summoner and if you break her heart or hurt her feelings then she can strike you down with her aeons!"

I just want to be her friend and someone she can rely on! Is that so much to ask for?

"Look, Lulu. You don't have to worry about that. There's not really a chance of that happening." I said bluntly.

She cocked an eyebrow at me. "Oh, is that so? Why is that?"

I wasn't really going to vent to her about how I actually feel about the situation. She would probably run off and tell Yuna and I'd get a good kick in the teeth.

So I said the next best thing that was true. "I think I'm falling for someone else."

She looked at me in disbelief at first, but then it changed to a smirk. "It's Riley. Isn't it?"

I paused. "How did you know?"

She smirked some more. "I can tell by the way you look at her."

Is it really that easy to see? I didn't want to admit it, but I was falling for her. What's not to like about her?

Her smile, her eyes, her hair, her skin...Everything!

That night on the highroad when she was lying in my lap, she looked like an angel. Right then and there I wanted to tell her how much I loved her and how badly I needed her to stay in my life after this journey was over.

But I don't think it's going to happen.

I sighed before sitting down. "Lulu, what am I gonna do? I really like her but I don't think I have a chance."

She sat down beside me and patted my back. "Maybe you should tell her how you feel. You never know. She could feel the same way."

I looked at her and smiled. "Thanks. I'll figure out the perfect time to tell her."

"I caution you, though. Make sure you do it alone. Yuna cannot find out about this. Two of her most trusted guardians going behind her back wouldn't exactly be the best thing for her to know about." She said in a hushed tone.

I relaxed a bit. "Tell me about it."

I stood up and decided to walk around for a bit. Maybe I could think of when to tell Riley. I just hope and pray that she would feel the same way.

I walked down a small tunnel that led to the next town, but that Shelinda girl was coming towards me. I was about to get an ear full.

"My... Was the lady summoner not with you?" She asked.

"No. She's at Seymour's place."

She sighed heavily. "That's 'Maester Seymour,' or 'Lord Seymour'."

"Oh, I'll be careful. Sorry."

She should know better than to correct me. That guy isn't worthy of being called a maester.

"That's all right. Maester Seymour left Guadosalam a short while ago."

"WhaT? You serious?" I asked.

She nodded. "I believe he went to the temple in Macalania. Maester Seymour is also the high priest of that temple."

"Whoa, I gotta tell the others!"

I waved her off and called everyone to attention in front of the manor. I began to tell them all about how Seymour wasn't here. What an ass!

But what really worried me was that if he wasn't here, what were Riley and Yuna doing in the manor.

RILEY'S POV

I couldn't believe this! We've searched all over this creepy manor to find that Seymour isn't even here!

What an ass!

"I don't understand. Why wouldn't he be here?" Yuna asked.

I crossed my arms and huffed. "Probably was scared you would reject him so he ran off crying."

"Riley." She said in a disapproving tone.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

She ignored me and thought to herself out loud. "He must be at the temple in Macalania. Maybe he's waiting there."

We exited the banquet hall and out into the main room. I still had my arms crossed. That man was going to get an ear full the next time I saw him.

But then, I remembered what else I wanted to do while I was here with Yuna.

"Hey, Yuna?" I asked.

"Yes?" She said, looking at me.

"What was that disk looking thing you grabbed from Jyscal?"

She gasped at first, then tried to hide it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh c'mon. I saw you grab it when it fell from his see-through body!"

I could tell she wasn't going to argue with me. She sighed in defeat and hung her head.

"It's a sphere. I don't know what is on it and I'm afraid to find out. But, it has to be important if he had it."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's take a look."

She shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe I should wait for awhile. And since Maester Seymour isn't here, it gives me more time to think this whole thing over."

That's when I did something unexpected. I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame.

"Yuna, please don't marry Seymour. He's no good and I know it! I don't want anything bad happening to you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he ever hurt you."

She wrapped her arms around me in return and sighed. "Riley, please try to understand. I'm doing this for you and all the other people in Spira. They need a little bit of joy and happiness in their lives. Spira needs something good to talk about for once. If I could change someone's frown to a smile for just a second, then I've done my job."

I didn't want to believe this was true, because it wasn't. Screw the people of Spira! If only they could see how creepy Seymour really is. But, they can't.

"Alright. But if something bad happens, I'm killing him."

She chuckled slightly, "You won't be aloine in that fight."

We let go of each other and looked around the manor. "Well, now what?"

"We need to do something about Jyscal." She said.

"What are we gonna do? The guy's dead. Not much going on there."

"I know, but why did he try to come back to this world? It's all so puzzling."

I crossed my arms yet again. "I dunno, but I bet the answer's in that sphere he dropped."

She nodded her head, "You're probably right."

"Soooo when can we look at it?" I asked.

"The next place we travel to called the Thunder Plains. Hopefully there's an inn we can stay at for a few moments. When we do, the two of us can act like we're sleepy and use a room. We can watch the sphere there."

I nodded my head. "Sounds like a good idea."

"As long as we watch it before we get to Macalania, we'll be okay."

"Where's that?" I asked.

"It's on the other side of the Thunder Plains. And we'll have to cross them quickly at the risk of being struck by lightning."

I rolled my eyes and groaned. "Ohhh, how marvelous!"

She laughed at my reaction and walked up one of the sets of stairs. She stopped in front of one of the pictures and bowed down before it.

I walked up beside her and found myself llooking at a portrait of Jyscal. It was while he was still alive, but he still looked the same.

If he had his tongue sticking out, he would really look like Einstein.

"Lord Jyscal, please tell me. What can I do to help?" Yuna asked.

As if she was going to get an answer.

But before anything could happen, Rikku popped in and waved for us. "Yuna! Riley! Let's go!"

We walked outside of the manor after doing the prayer gesture to the picture. Outside, everyone was gathered in a circle, ready for our next move.

"They say Seymour went to Macarena Temple." Tidus said.

"Macalania Temple." Wakka corrected.

"Aye!"

I couldn't help but laugh at this. I wonder if they knew the Macarena was a dance back in my world. Maybe I should teach it to them sometime.

"What I don't get is... why would the lord maester head off without a peep to anyone?" Wakka asked.

"Maybe he wasn't expecting Yuna's answer so soon." Rikku replied.

"Ah, that's probably it."

Yuna and I both exchanged looks before she laughed shortly. It sounded more like she was breathing really heavily, which made me giggle.

"Yuna, what is it?" Auron asked.

"Oh, nothing." She lied.

"Hmm... You're a poor liar. Riley? What is it?" He asked me.

I stopped giggling and looked him in the eye. "It's nothing! Come on, let's go."

Thank goodness he believed me so we could leave. We all walked down a short tunnel that led to a dark, wet area filled with the sound of thunder.

This was going to be fun.