Chapter 28 – Seek the Painful Truth
6/15/05: The usual proofreading stuff...
Yuna stood in awe, frightened stiff by the voice. A dim light now began to shine upon the voice's owner. It was truly her old aeon, Yojimbo. Again the growling of his dog scared her. She backed up, and bumped into a wall. Knowing she was cornered, she attempted to speak, but only the chattering of her teeth came from her mouth. A deathly cold chill ran down her spine, freezing her legs solid. Her breath ran heavy – her hands began to tremble. Daigoro approached her with tenacity. Methodically he stalked her, his eyes now within sight. She tripped while sidestepping, and tumbled to the ground. Fearing his attack, Yuna raised her arm and closed her eyes.
Instead of a flow of blood, she was covered with a river of slobber. Licking her profusely, the dog shot her with loving puppy-dog eyes. She reached out her hand in some sort of automatic function, and rubbed his ear. Daigoro submitted easily to Yuna, and now slumped in her lap, panting his slobber all over her.
Yojimbo walked up to Yuna, who gazed up at the tall figure. He shook his head, emitting a slight sigh. His figure was still as prominent and majestic as when she first laid eyes on him. Using his gigantic sword as a cane, she positioned himself next to Yuna, staring down at her.
"It seems even the most ferocious of beasts can be tamed by gentle goodness." he spoke, almost joking in tone.
"Y-you...you aren't under Kinoc's control?" stuttered Yuna, surprised by Yojimbo's volition.
He smirked, "The man Kinoc certainly attempted to gain his will over mine."
"But you're not," she questioned, still not in total belief that he wasn't under Kinoc's control, "how is that possible?"
"Because the priest had no honor."
"No honor?"
He nodded, "Yes, he was a cold man, bound by nothing but greed and vengeance."
"Did you fight him? I-is he dead?"
"Unfortunately I had not the chance to kill him. When he discovered that I was beyond his grasp, he fled. Such a pitiful man he was."
Yuna smiled, "I'm glad."
Yojimbo shifted himself, now fully pointing in Yuna's direction. His long, black shadow covered Yuna. It blended her eerily with the shadows in the Chamber. His figure became stiff and barren. Without warning, he slammed his sword into the ground, startling Yuna.
"Honor is something that no longer has value in this world anymore. Such is a lesson you conveyed to me!" he roared, causing Daigoro to dart off Yuna's lap in fear.
Yuna, also afraid of his sudden outburst, shuffled backwards, "I-I don't understand...why am I dishonorable? What have I done?"
"You sacrificed your aeons in the battle with Sin. We stood to serve with you, not be wasted in holocaust." he accused with anger.
"No, that's not true!" she shook her head frantically, "I didn't want to do that...I had to. You must understand, it was beyond my control. Yu Yevon took control of the aeons! He took control, and we had to stop them. Please...understand!"
Expecting an immediate, and horribly strong reaction from Yojimbo, Yuna braced herself, and clamped her eyes shut. Instead, he paused, now gazing meekly into the mist around him. He walked a few steps to his side, tapping his mighty sword on the ground with gentleness. It was to Yuna, as if he hadn't an answer for her.
Then, he finally spoke, "I...do understand. A truly honorable warrior sacrifices anything in order to fulfill one's duty. Your duty was to save Spira, and save you did. Please forgive my frustration."
She nodded, finally opening her eyes to see Yojimbo, a thin fog swirling around him. Again, he tapped his sword on the ground repeatedly, thinking deeply to himself. Yuna arose to her feet, and moved towards him. She was puzzled by his sudden changes in aggression. Usually calm and concise, he now seemed flustered and unsteady.
"There are many things I must tell you," he said bluntly all of the sudden, "things that again pertain to Spira's safely."
"I don't understand. What things?"
"About the plan of that old priest. How he plans to conqueror Spira."
A cold sweat ran down Yuna's brow from these words. Finally, someone knew of Kinoc's scheme. However, she also had a feeling of condemnation for his comment, as she wanted not to listen to more troubles. She looked down, staring grimly at her feet. For a moment, her mind went blank.
Finally, she raised her head, "Please, tell me...I must know."
Yojimbo nodded, planting his sword firmly into the ground, "As you know, he had tried to gain control of all of your former aeon's. He has tried to control the Fayth - stir them from their eternal slumber..."
One by one, as far as I know, the Fayth were taken under his control. I believe I was the only one who did not submit. Such a dastardly man will never take my being. However, even without me, he has formed a mighty and powerful militia. He wants to enslave the populous of Spira, and condemn them to the same fate as he was – eternal life after death. Somehow, he has in his unsent afterlife, acquired the ability to control the fayth of people. Although I believe those sent to the Farplane are immune from his magic, those who were not can be subjected to his will.
This is why you are a primary target of his. Not only to you posses the necessary mind and being to halt his advance, you could also be a valuable asset. That is why you cannot allow yourself to die and fall under his control.
With his aeons, he plans to launch an attack on Spira. I believe he will demolish Bevelle first, then head south. What I do not know, is when. A man as insane as Kinoc is unpredictable. There is no telling when his timetable will cycle for battle. You must defeat him now, or Spira will once again be caught in peril.
In response to Yojimbo's horrid information, Yuna moaned, leaning her head against the stony wall of the Cavern. She rubbed her eyes, which were shallow and distant. Swallowing hard, she refaced Yojimbo and approached him.
"Do you know of a man named Shuyin?" she asked out of the blue.
"Eh...Shuyin you say. No I do not."
"You don't? But he was supposed to be working with Kinoc." she claimed haplessly.
Yojimbo knelt down to pet his dog, "His name is not familiar. There was no other man around when Kinoc attempted his mind control. Perhaps...perhaps he was the man who freed Kinoc from the dark cloister in Bevelle."
Yuna sighed once again, brushing her hair back from her face, "I...I'm so sick of saving Spira, and so tired of battling. Why can't the peace ever last for me..."
"Battling? With Sin destroyed, how much battling have you needed to do?" he asked in confusion.
Yuna smiled a heartless smile, "Too much. We've already fought Kinoc a number of times."
"So you have. Then I assume you've already fought some of your aeons."
"Yeah, three of them. And Kinoc's already nearly killed me. He did kill an old priest in cold blood...not to mention hurting Rikku and Paine."
"Then the days are growing darker, little by little. If he has been attacking you so frequently, then he will soon enact his scheme to decimate Spira." he replied bleakly.
Solemnly, Yuna sat down on the ground. She curled herself up into a ball. Yojimbo looked at her, wondering if she was crying. It seemed as if more than battling had worn her spirit. He walked up to her, kneeling down in some sort of effort to comfort her.
"It seems more than just the wounds of war are troubling you. Stand tall, little warrior – you cannot break now."
With a sudden flare, Yuna's eyes boiled with anger, "Break? Break! I am already broken. My whole life is broken! All I do is go around searching...searching perpetually for Tidus. And what do I find? Nothing but hopelessness, despair, and trouble!"
Now he understood. Beneath her cloak of cheerful glee, was a worn and pained soul. She was rotting inside from the years of unending misery. Expecting her to cry, instead he found her just sitting there, murmuring to herself. He raised himself off his knee.
"For one to be hurt beyond tears is the truest of tragedies. Please, little summoner, rise to your feet." he asked kindly.
She did, but didn't bare to look at him. Instead, she stood there, wavering in the air. He reached into his cloak, and pulled out a tiny sphere attached to a chain.
"Please accept this, as one warrior's gift to another." he enunciated, extending it out to Yuna.
She lifted her head, and looked perplexedly at what seemed to be some sort of necklace, "W-what is this?"
"When you have finally battled a foe too great, or find yourself in your darkest hour, clench this to your heart. Call my name, and I will come to fight for you."
Her eyes burst with surprise, "I-is that possible? I can't summon anymore..."
"It is, and I will come. Take my humble promise, dear savior of Spira. For now, I must rest, as engaging with Kinoc has made me weak." he explained, and stepped back into the mist, disappearing without a sound.
Yuna, nevertheless, didn't move. Still awestruck by what Yojimbo told her, she remained in a state of disillusion. She slumped down on the ground, blankly staring into space. Her battles with Kinoc, pictures of her aeons, fighting with her friends, memories of Tidus - they all flowed chaotically through her mind. She was utterly confused; she knew not what to do. One side of her said to endure for the benefit of Spira. The other side told her to end her own suffering. There would be no salvation for her. Unsure of how long she was in the Cavern, she got up and teleported out of it.
Her mind faded in and out. However, she was abruptly snapped out of her trance by the shouting of Paine, who was running up to her. She looked up, and noticed her worrying face. It must have been some time since the two had separated.
"Yuna! Yuna! There you are! Where the hell have you been?" she questioned, giving Yuna a half-worried, half-angry look.
"In the Chamber. One of my aeons was there." she replied quietly.
Paine now changed to an appearance of confusion, "Huh? An aeon...you're not hurt are you?"
She shook her head, "No. He wasn't under Kinoc's influence."
"That's thankful. Then what happened between you two?"
"I'll explain on the ship. Everyone needs to hear what he said to me."
Although not sure what Yuna was thinking, Paine agreed, and escorted Yuna out of the cave. She was greeted by many happy souls. They appreciated the good samaritanship of the Gullwings. Even though Yuna was glad they could help, it wasn't near what she needed to quell her inner hardships. Dusk was rapidly approaching, and the Gullwings were hungry. They all gathered in the cabin, where Barkeep and Darling were whipping up some of their Hypello specials. Yuna felt it a good time to discuss what her aeon told her.
"It was certainly a surprise," she replied to Buddy, who asked her what Yojimbo was doing in the Cavern, "but for some reason, I was compelled to go into the Chamber of the Fayth.
"You always seem to get yourself into trouble, Yunie." teased Rikku.
An awkward silence proceeded Rikku joke, as Yuna didn't smile. In fact, she seemed more in sorrowful agreement to her statement than anyone would like to see her be. Brother decided to break the silence.
"Well...at least he didn't try to pick a fight like your other aeons, yes." he blurted, to Yuna's displeasure.
Buddy followed with a question to distract her from the thought of her other aeons, "So tell us, what did he tell you?"
Yuna told them about the attempt of Kinoc to control Yojimbo. She explained what Yojimbo told her about Kinoc's plan, as well as his ability to control unsent fayth. This sent a consensual shiver down everyone's spine. When Paine asked about Shuyin, she wasn't sure how to answer.
"I'm not really sure of their connection," she finally answered, "while Kinoc claimed they were partners, nobody was present but Kinoc when Yojimbo fought him."
"That's really weird," Rikku said between chewing, "although...we've never seen them together."
"That's true, we haven't." agreed Paine.
"Actually guys, Yojimbo did say that Shuyin could have been the one to release Kinoc from some dark cloister."
"Dark cloister? What do you mean?" questioned Buddy.
Yuna shrugged, "I really don't know. He said it was underneath Bevelle or something."
Shinra perked up at this, and began tapping his finger on the table, "That kind of sounds familiar to me. I think I read something about that somewhere."
Brother, waiting for a further explanation, became typically impatient, "Well Shinra, what do you know. Spill them beans!"
"I don't know off hand! But I can look it up, geesh! I'm just a kid, not a library." he complained, annoying Brother.
"I bet it has something important to do with Kinoc though." chimed in Rikku.
Paine nodded, "You might be right. How 'bout it Yuna...think it's worth checking out?"
"I don't know," grunted Yuna, letting out a long, heavy sigh, "I'm just so...confused right that I...I don't know..."
Her cousin became distraught, "Hey Yunie, are you alright? Maybe you should lay down."
Yuna looked at Rikku, bluntly replying, "That's not going to help me."
"Oh..." spoke Rikku quietly, sulking down into her chair.
At her own words, Yuna got up in a disgusted state and left the cabin. She ran to the lift and went to the deck, where she hoped to escape to tranquility. For once, she succeeded, as it was peaceful outside. It was now dark, and the stars shone brightly in the night sky. There wasn't but a handful of wispy gray clouds hovering above, allowing the moon to bathe Yuna in its radiant light. She half-heartedly chuckled to herself when she realized that she was lying down now. Closing her eyes, she pictured her love walking in these same plains. She recalled how he comforted her when she first nervously entered the Cavern. Like a drug, it was a sweet satisfaction that never lasted. Memories were but memories – thoughts of a past far faded.
A cool, gentle breeze ran by her face. She again opened her eyes to watch a small swatch of clouds pass in front of the moon, shading its light from the world below. Its overcast gave Yuna a much desired feeling of hiding. Many times had she dreamed about making love to Tidus beneath the mellow night sky. Much had she yearned to leave the cold room in which she felt imprisoned in. Just as the clouds masked the golden light of the moon, she felt as if the perils in Spira were cloaking the happiness she was entitled to. Her memories of Tidus and of the good times felt like a dawn which never came for her. Two years ago, she embarked on a long, dangerous endeavor to save Spira. In the present, Spira seemed to be instilled in the same kind of jeopardy that it was when against Sin.
She laughed to herself, wondering how funny it was that things never change, they merely take on a different form. While she was supposed to be the great bringer of the Eternal Calm, she now realized that such a concept did not exist. Her mind faded with her despair into a dark and uncomfortable sleep...
Next chapter: Yuna continues her spiral of depression after knowing what was occurring behind the shadows. Shinra, after much research, uncovers some of the mystery behind the dark cloister in the far depths of Bevelle. They also gain a hitchhiker in Tolbi, who needs to bum a ride back to the Moonflow.
