AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry that this chapter was slightly delayed. I got a bit side-tracked by Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. I finished it about twenty minutes ago and oh my gosh it is amazing. If you're a fan of the series then GET IT.

I was asked in a review something to do with the X-2 sequel again. I've actually been thinking about it and, although there will be a sequel to this story, I'm starting to think it won't be based on X-2. I can't say much because I don't want to spoil it, but hopefully you'll all enjoy it regardless.

This chapter is dedicated to kawaiimuffens, SkeeterB, KikinoYue, nijamuzen and 3000-Volt.

Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review!

DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy X, its characters, locations and plotlines are owned by Square Enix. I do not claim to own any of these. However, I do own my original character Sakura, also known as Suki. If you wish to use her in any form of media then please ask my permission first.

Chapter 34 – The Farplane

Walking through the portal to get to the Farplane made me feel a bit nervous. I didn't regret walking through or anything…I just had no idea what this place was going to be like. I felt someone squeeze my hand and turned to see Yuna standing next to me, a comforting smile on her face. I squeezed her hand back in thanks, my smile a bit weaker than hers.

When we first emerged into the Farplane I couldn't see anything. I could barely see Yuna standing next to me due to the thick cloud surrounding us. The cloud began to clear and I could see we were standing on a circular rock plateau of some sort. It was fairly large, around 15 meters in diameters. Now that the cloud was hovering around the edge of the plateau, Wakka and Yuna both walked to the edge at opposite sides. Pyreflies started to swirl around in front of both of them before figures started to form. The familiar forms of my Uncle Braska and Aunt Lynka appeared in front of Yuna. I had been very young when Uncle Braska had died, and I hadn't even been born when my Aunt was killed by Sin, but Uncle Cid had a picture of them which he carried around with him so I knew exactly what they looked like; he had disowned her when she married my uncle, but he never stopped caring about her.

I frowned slightly. Come to think of it…I had never been told how Uncle Braska had died. I knew that Aunt Lynka had died before Uncle Braska had decided to become a summoner. She had been on a ship heading back to Home to try and make peace with her family, but the ship had been attacked by Sin. Uncle Cid had always partly blamed himself for being so stubborn for so long and not making contact before that. He was inconsolable for days. Rikku had only been two when it happened but Brother had been four, and he remembered how my mother had hidden her own grief for her sister to try and comfort Uncle Cid. It had been a very had time for our whole family.

That was when Uncle Braska had decided to become a summoner, to avenge his wife. But I had never been told how he died. I know he defeated Sin but after that, I have no idea what happened to him…

The pyreflies in front of Wakka had now also transformed into a person: a young man in a Blitz uniform. He looked a bit younger than Wakka was, and Lulu was watching them both intensely from a short distance away. I presumed this was Chappu, Wakka's younger brother. I could see what Wakka and Lulu had meant; he did look kind of like Tidus.

Speaking of whom, Tidus was looking around in wonder. I didn't blame him, but all we could see were clouds, clouds and more clouds. All we could hear was the noise of a very strong wind, and yet I couldn't even feel a breeze.

Suddenly, far on the horizon, it looked like the clouds were getting sucked down in a spiral. As the clouds cleared we could see that there was a beautiful landscape many many meters down below us, with fields full of flowers, steep cliffs and even waterfalls, the pyreflies dancing all around. Now, the sound of the crashing water was so loud I couldn't believe I wasn't able to hear it earlier. You could tell there was some kind of magic about this place.

Tidus was now looking at Yuna and her parents. He had a sad smile on his face. I nudged him gently.

"You okay?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. They just…they look so happy together. Yuna's mom and dad I mean."

I smiled. "They were. Lynka got shunned by most of Spira, and Braska got a lot of stick for marrying an Al Bhed but he didn't care. He loved her regardless."

Tidus sighed a little. "What if…what if seeing them makes her want to marry Seymour?"

I shrugged. "I don't know…but can we really do anything if she does decide to do that?"

Tidus frowned at me. "You've changed your tune."

"Look, I hate Seymour as much as you do, but Yuna's stubborn. Like I said, if she thinks doing this will make people happy then she'll do it," I explained.

Tidus' face fell. I sighed.

"Tidus, I know you really care about her," I started, carrying on quickly before he could interrupt me, "and she really cares about you too. The problem is she feels like she can't act on her own feelings unless it's going to benefit other people."

Tidus exhaled sharply and walked away from me towards Lulu. She caught my eye and smiled sympathetically. She had probably heard out whole exchange.

"Sakura is very smart," a voice said behind me.

I turned to see Kimahri with his arms folded standing in front of the portal. I smiled slightly.

"So I'm right?" I asked.

Kimahri nodded once. "You are right." He looked over at Tidus. "Tidus like Yuna very much. Yuna feel the same. Problem is that Yuna cannot be honest with herself, like Sakura said."

I sighed, glancing between Tidus and Yuna. "They're both stubborn. That's part of the problem."

Kimahri chuckled. Before he could say anything I rolled my eyes.

"Yes I know I'm stubborn too, shut up," I scowled.

Kimahri chuckled again. "Sakura does not know Kimahri was going to say that."

I gave him a look. "I thought you said I was smart."

Kimahri smiled. "…Sakura has a point."

I grinned at him before he looked round at the others.

"Did Sakura not want to see someone she had lost?" he asked.

My smiled faded and I sighed. "Yeah…I wanted to see Gatta."

He frowned. "Does Sakura not want to see her parents?"

"Don't mention them!" I said sharply.

Kimahri looked taken aback at my tone.

"Sorry…" I apologised meekly. "My parents…they were never sent. There aren't any Al Bhed summoners. I don't remember it myself cause I was too young but Rikku told me they weren't sent."

Kimahri sighed deeply. "Kimahri sorry."

I shook my head. "Don't apologise. I'm just trying not to think of them because I don't want to get upset when I don't see them."

Kimahri nodded in understanding. I walked over towards the edge of the plateau before turning back to look at him.

"Don't you have someone you want to see?" I asked.

Kimahri shook his head. "Kimahri keep his memories inside."

I nodded, knowing what he meant before walking right up to the end of the plateau. I sat down, letting my legs swing over the edge and closing my eyes. I took a deep breath and pictured Gatta in my head. When I opened my eyes I gasped in spite of myself. Gatta was right in front of me. Only I knew it wasn't really him.

He looked exactly the same as he always had. He was smiling too, like he'd been almost every time I'd seen him. It was hard to convince myself that it wasn't really him in front of me.

"Um…hey Gatta," I said quietly.

Of course 'Gatta' didn't reply, but he kept smiling. I forced the voice in my head that was telling me this was stupid to shut up and I smiled back at him.

"I…I mean, we really miss you. I know I didn't know you very well but you were always really nice to me." I looked down at my lap. "Although you probably wouldn't have been as nice if you'd known I was an Al Bhed," I added quietly.

His facial expression obviously hadn't changed when I looked up, but I chose to believe that Gatta wouldn't have minded about me being an Al Bhed. He didn't seem like the type who would be as closed-minded as that.

"Luzzu was really upset," I told him. "He seemed mad at you at first but I think he was more angry at himself for not looking after you better. He's gone home to Besaid now to take some time off, which is good. Tidus thinks it's his fault too cause he's the one who told you that you should fight like you were saying you wanted to. I don't know if he still feels like that, but I know you wouldn't blame him."

I swallowed before continuing. "I know you wanted to defeat Sin just as much as we do. I promise we'll do it. We'll defeat Sin, all of us together. I swear."

I didn't say anything after that. I just stared down past the rock, watching the crashing waterfalls. After a few minutes I stood up and turned away from 'Gatta', walking towards Yuna who was still talking to the projections of her parents. When I looked back the pyreflies that had been forming Gatta had already flown away. I didn't mind. I'd said all I'd wanted to say.

I saw that Tidus was talking to Lulu still, so I walked up to stand next to Yuna. She glanced over and smiled at me before turning back to her parents. Her father was wearing the red and white summoner robes I was used to seeing him in due to the statues of him in the temples and from photographs I'd seen. Her mother was wearing a cream and orange shirt with a long green skirt, her hair a similar style as Yuna's but the same colour as mine. Her eyes were just like mine, just like every Al Bhed's – green with a swirl for a pupil.

"Do you miss them?" I asked her.

She nodded. "Of course I do, but I'm grateful there's a place like this where I can see them." She looked over at me again. "You don't remember them, do you?"

I shook my head. "Aunt Lynka had died before I was born, and Uncle Braska died when I was three. I think I met him once when he came to Home on his Pilgrimage but I don't remember it clearly."

Yuna frowned. "Home? But there isn't a temple there."

"I know, but he went anyway. I think he wanted to try and rectify things with Uncle Cid," I explained. "That's what Brother told me anyway. He was seven then so he remembers it better than I do."

Yuna nodded to herself before turning back to her parents.

"Aunt Lynka was very beautiful," I said. "You look a lot like her."

Yuna smiled. "Thank you. I'm happy you think I look like her."

I heard footsteps behind us and I turned to see Tidus walking towards us. I started to walk away to give them some privacy but Tidus grabbed my arm.

"Suki, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to storm off like that. That was really immature."

I smiled. "It's fine, honest. I was just going to give you guys some time alone."

Tidus shook his head. "No need. You can stay if you want."

I smiled and nodded, and we both walked back toward Yuna.

She turned to smile at us both. "I've decided," she announced.

"Really?" Tidus said, surprised. "Um…that's good!"

Yuna giggles lightly at his surprise. "I remembered when I was only seven years old in Bevelle that day, my father had defeated Sin and the whole town was out in the streets. Everyone was laughing. They all seemed so happy… If I defeated Sin that would make everyone happy, wouldn't it?"

Tidus and I both grimaced, knowing what she was getting at but reluctant to answer her question.

"I have to do what everyone wants, not just what I want," she continued.

"Let's go back," Tidus said. "You gotta tell Seymour."

Yuna smiled slightly, turning away from her parents to face Tidus. "Before that, call Sir Jecht. Give it a try."

Tidus looked a bit shocked. "Huh?"

"Don't worry," Yuna reassured him. "He won't come."

Tidus clearly had the same problem as I had had when Kimahri mentioned my parents. Trying to not think about his father must have made him think about him. But despite that, nobody appeared in front of him.

Yuna smiled again. "See? Told you. That means he's alive you know."

I could see from Tidus' face that that wasn't what he was thinking at all. We were both thinking the same thing. What Auron had said was true. Jecht was Sin.

Tidus scoffed slightly. "I'd rather never see him again."

"What makes you hate him so?" Yuna asked.

"Everything he does just makes me mad," Tidus said. "It was his fault that me and my mother…"

Tidus never finished that sentence because the pyreflies in front of us started to stir. Slowly, a woman's figure began to form. She had shoulder length copper coloured hair and wore a white top with a yellow jacket over it, and blue pants. Her face was very similar to Tidus'. I realised that this must be Tidus' mother.

"It's her…" Tidus said, sounding very shocked.

"She's very pretty," I smiled.

"But…wait, no-one ever performed the Sending for her," Tidus said.

"She must have accepted death while she was still alive…" Yuna said quietly.

Tidus frowned at her. "Whoa there. That's my mother you're talking about."

"Oh…I'm sorry," Yuna said, looking guilty.

Tidus smiled half-heartedly and shook his head. "It's okay," he reassured her. "I think I just figured something out."

"What?" I asked.

"Why I hate my old man," he replied. "Whenever my old man was around my mother wouldn't even look at me. Maybe that's when I started to resent him, even hate him. When he left us my mom just lost her energy." He sighed. "The old lady next door told me when a lovebird dies the one left behind, it just gives up living so it can join its mate. It was just like that. I hated my old man even more. But really, my old man…" He sighed again. "Oh man. I must sound so stupid."

"I don't think so," Yuna said, and I nodded in agreement.

Yuna then looked over at me. "Suki, did you see your parents?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Don't mention them! They aren't here, I know that. I don't want to be disappointed!"

"Um…Suki? You may want to open your eyes."

Slowly, on Tidus' advice I did open my eyes, and I gasped.

"…Mom? Dad?"

I couldn't believe it. Hovering just in front of me were the figures of my parents. I had been very young when they had died so I didn't remember what they looked like from then, but I had seen many pictures of them which Uncle Cid kept around the house.

My mother was very beautiful. She had hair the same sandy brown colour as mine, but longer. Hers went down to the middle of her back. She was wearing a long blue skirt and a white shirt with ruffles at the sleeves. My father also had sandy brown hair but cropped very short, even shorter than Tidus'. He was wearing brown pants and a bottle green jacket over his black shirt. I had my mother's oval face, but my father's large lips and round eyes. I had never realised how much I looked like them.

My view of my parents was then blurred due to the tears welling up in my eyes.

"I…I don't understand," I sniffed, trying to not cry. "My parents…they were never sent. And they died suddenly so they couldn't have accepted death before they died."

"Your parents died in the machina accident in Bikanel Island, didn't they?"

I turned to see Lulu standing behind me, and I nodded. "Yeah, but nobody ever sends the Al Bhed, so how can they be here?"

"I have heard about this," Lulu explained. "Just after that had happened, a summoner and her guardians were lost in the desert on Bikanel Island. Some Al Bhed found her and asked her to send the dead in exchange for food and water, and she agreed. A machina accident had just happened, and three Al Bhed had died – two women and a man."

I nodded slowly. "My parents and my aunt, Rikku's mother. But Rikku always told me they hadn't been sent. That's why she didn't want to come here to the Farplane. She was sure she wouldn't see her mother and she didn't want to get upset when she wasn't here."

Lulu nodded. "Rikku's father is named Cid, correct? I have heard that Cid is not too fond of the ideas of summoners. I doubt he was very happy about his sisters and brother-in-law being sent by a summoner. You and Rikku would have been too young to remember what happened clearly, so he probably never told either of you."

I grumbled. "I'll be having a word with Uncle Cid when I see him…"

Tidus chuckled. "Will you tell Rikku?"

I nodded. "Of course! She'll get to see her mother again!"

Lulu glanced behind her and motioned for us to be quiet as Wakka walked over. I took the hint. No talking about the Al Bhed around Wakka.

"Need some more time?" he asked Yuna.

She shook her head. "No, I'm ready."

Lulu and Wakka nodded, and we all left the Farplane.

I ran down the steps and practically jumped on Rikku.

"Whoa! What's up with you?" Rikku asked.

"I saw mom and dad!" I squealed. "Lulu told me that my parents and you mom were actually sent! You can go see your mom!"

Rikku's face lit up at first, but slowly she shook her head. "No…it's okay."

I frowned. "What are you talking about? Don't you want to see your mom?"

Rikku shook her head. "I made my peace about mom a long time ago. I'm glad she was sent cause that means she didn't turn into a fiend, but I don't want to see her. It wouldn't be her anyway. Just an illusion."

Before I could argue further Yuna and the others came down the stairs.

"Thanks for waiting," she said to Rikku and Auron. "I'll go and give my answer to Maester Seymour."

Suddenly there was a ruckus behind us, and we turned to see something emerging from the Farplane. Everyone gasped as we started to see that it was clearly a Guado.

"Lord Jyscal!" Lulu exclaimed.

The old Maester was moaning like he was in pain. There was something ghostly about him.

"He does not belong here," Auron said, mimicking what I had been thinking. "Yuna, send him."

Yuna walked up the stairs and began to perform the sending. As she started to dance I hear a quiet groan behind me that nobody else apparently heard. I turned to see Auron crouched on the floor, grumbling in pain. I stepped towards him to try and help but he waved me away.

"Don't. I'm fine," he said, even though his face told a different story.

I glance behind me to see Lord Jyscal start to vanish as Yuna finished her dance. Her eyes dropped to the floor as if she'd spotted something, and she crouched down to pick it up. I couldn't see what it was though. Auron stopped groaning and stood up again, as if nothing had happened. Before anyone could ask Yuna anything, or before I could ask Auron if he was okay, he shook his head.

"Talk later. We leave now."

I glanced between Yuna and Auron, unsure as to whom I should be asking questions. But I decided to do as Auron said and I kept my questions inside as I followed the others back into Guadosalam.

"Wha…what was that just now? That really Lord Jyscal?" Wakka asked as we walked along the path back to Seymour's mansion.

I shrugged. "It sure looked like him. Although I'm surprised that someone as important as him wouldn't have been sent when they died."

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

"That's against the rules isn't it?" Rikku pointed out.

"It means he died an unclean death," Auron explained.

Nobody spoke again until we reached Seymour's mansion. Presumably the others were doing the same thing I was doing: mulling over what Auron might have meant by an "unclean death."

When we reached the door to the mansion, Yuna turned to face us.

"I will go meet with Maester Seymour," she said before entering the mansion. We all understood that this was a private thing so we waited outside without any protest, but before the doors closed behind her Auron called out.

"Yuna. Jyscal is the Guado's problem, not yours."

Yuna stopped when Auron spoke, but didn't turn round. As soon as he had finished speaking Yuna continued walking and the door closed behind her.

Tidus and I walked after Lulu. She sighed and turned around. "What?"

"What do you think about Yuna getting married?" I asked.

"As long as the pilgrimage continues, either way is fine," she answered.

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

Lulu shrugged. "People marry for many reasons."

"What's that mean?" Tidus asked.

"Sometimes marriage doesn't require love, you know?" she explained. "Defeat Sin and bring joy to the people of Spira. Get married and bring joy to the people of Spira."

I sighed. "They're one and the same to Yuna, aren't they?"

Lulu nodded. "Two ways down the same road. All you need is determination. If you have that, you don't need love."

I frowned and turned away from Lulu. I didn't agree with her, but I didn't want to say so. I'd never experienced romantic love myself, I was far too young. But I had seen it in other people. In my parents, my uncle and aunt, and I could see it blooming between Tidus and Yuna.

Lulu sighed. "Listen, if Yuna gets married, then I would want her to marry for love."

"See?" Tidus said as I turned back to face them.

"However, if Yuna said she wanted to marry the one she loves I would have to object."

When Lulu said this, she looked straight at Tidus. I gasped under my breath. She could see it too.

Tidus however was as confused as ever. "You're not making much sense…" he said.

Lulu smiled slightly. "I know. You'll understand one of these days. I shouldn't have to say this, but don't fall in love with her."

Tidus face fell slightly, and I held my breath as I waited for his reply. He looked down at the ground for a few moments before raising his head to look straight at Lulu.

"It's too late," he said simply, his voice more serious than I had ever heard it before.

Lulu smiled again, but quickly hid it. "I see. But you must keep your feelings inside until…until the pilgrimage is over."

Tidus nodded, and Lulu walked away.

He then glanced over at me and rolled his eyes, presumable because of the massive grin on my face.

"Don't say a word to Yuna," he mumbled, sounding embarrassed.

I nodded. "Don't worry, I won't."

Tidus muttered his thanks before walking over to talk to Wakka.

I looked around to try and find Rikku so I could tell her the good news. I spotted her blonde hair peeping out from behind a twisted root. I walked over to find her standing with her head in her hands.

"Rikku? What's up?" I asked.

"After this…we have to go through the Thunder Plains you know?" she said, her voice shaking.

I sighed. "You still got that thing about lightning?"

She looked up and glared at me. "You don't get over a traumatic experience like that!"

I smiled slightly. "Yeah, I know. Sorry. Brother hitting you with that thunder spell must have been pretty scary."

She nodded. "It was," she whimpered. "The fiend wasn't even near me! He's just got really bad aim."

I nudged her. "Look, think about it this way. When you've crossed the Thunder Plains, maybe you'll overcome your fear!"

Rikku nodded slowly. "Yeah…maybe," she said, but she didn't sound too sure.

I thought now was as good a time as ever to ask her about what had happened at the Farplane.

"Rikku, why didn't you want to see your mom?" I asked.

Rikku sighed. "Because it wouldn't really be my mom. My mom is dead. I have my memories of her and that's enough. I don't need to see an illusion of her." She smiled at me. "I know why you would want to see your mom and dad though. You never really knew them; you were too young when they died. I'm really glad you got to see them Suki."

I smiled back and hugged her. "Thanks Rikku."

Suddenly Tidus came running up. I hadn't even noticed that he'd left the area in front of the mansion. We all gathered around him.

"Maester Seymour isn't here," he said. "I saw that woman we met on the High Road. Shelinda I think her name was? She told me Seymour went to the temple that he's High Priest of."

"That'll be Macalania Temple," Lulu mused.

"If Seymour isn't here then we're wasting time," Auron said.

Rikku jogged over to the door and stuck her head in. "Yuna! Let's go!"

Yuna walked out a few moments later and came over to us.

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

"Macalania," I corrected.

"What I can'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 suggested.

"Ah, that's probably it," Wakka agreed.

Yuna looked worried, and I wasn't the only one who noticed.

"Yuna, what is it?" Auron asked.

Yuna looked up at him. "Oh? Nothing."

"You're a poor liar," Auron said.

Yuna frowned and shook her head. "It's true, it's nothing. Come on, let's go."

Everyone nodded and followed Yuna as she headed in the direction of the exit to Macalania. All expect for Rikku who shuddered.

"I hate lightning…" she grumbled.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!