A Generation of Legacies

Chapter Thirty-Six

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, X-2, or any of Square Enix's characters.

Last Time:

"If Seiryu sent us out here all to find Koiray, then I'm sure the aeons will be willing to help us out just a little longer." The head summoner closed her eyed momentarily before opening them, revealing an icy blue aura. She placed her hands on Koiray's still body, somehow warming him. As the power left her, she shook away its remnants to re-examine the Deputy Crimson Knight. "Koiray? Koiray, can you hear me?" she called to him.

He stirred slightly but did not answer.

"Mom, we don't know how long he's been out here. Who knows if he can even get better?"

"No," she shook her head, "Seiryu wouldn't have sent us out here if it was hopeless. Koiray, do you know where you are? Do you know who I am?"

The Deputy Crimson Knight stirred once more, and his eyes slowly opened. "…Lady… Jesa…?" He found it almost impossible to move his lips.

Head Summoner Jesa nodded and smiled. "Good, and do you know where you are?"

"…somewhere…cold…."

"I see you haven't lost that sense of sarcasm of yours. Just hold on, Koiray, we'll have you back at the temple before long."

-------------------

Head Summoner Jesa rounded a corner, heading to one of the guest quarters. She reached a closed door and pressed her hand to the call sphere. "Sir Koiray? It's Head Summoner Jesa. Is it all right if I come in?" Hearing no answer, she pressed her hand to the same sphere, and the door slid open, revealing a simple room with a bed, stand, and window. A young man stood with his back to the door, dressed in what appeared to be light blue sleeping clothes, gazing out the window.

"Sir Koiray," she said, startling him, "what are you doing out of bed?"

He turned suddenly and greeted her with a smile. "Oh, Lady Jesa, I'm fine. I just wanted a different view-" He tried to make his point by approaching her, but his legs gave out halfway.

"Sir Koiray," Jesa moved to catch him before helping him back to bed, "you shouldn't push yourself like this. You're weak. I'm even surprised that you could have gotten out of bed by yourself."

Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, he laughed and shook his head. "I'm a quick healer. I'll be fine before you know it, Lady Jesa."

She sighed. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Sir Koiray; I can't ignore the fact that most grown men would still be unconscious for days after an ordeal like that."

"Is the title really necessary? You've known me since I was born."

"Not really, but I wasn't sure what you preferred being called. I should have probably guessed that you'd be exactly like both of your parents and shrug off any titles, at least around close family, friends, and colleagues."

"Thanks for the thought." He paused lightly. "I'm curious. Who knows that you found me?"

Head Summoner Jesa shook her head. "No one outside of the temple. We didn't know what had happened to you, and we didn't want to start a bunch of silly rumors with incomplete information. I was going to contact your parents, though, if your condition got any worse."

"I see."

"Is there anyone you would like us to contact, Koiray?"

He shook his head. "Not, it's fine. I shouldn't be here too long. In fact, I wanted to ask you if there were any airships headed for Besaid any time soon. I'd like to get home as soon as possible."

She paused thoughtfully for a moment. "I believe that the guardians' airship is headed there tomorrow, but are you sure you're ready to travel?"

"Don't worry," he assured her, "once I get back to Besaid, I don't plan on going anywhere else for awhile."

Head Summoner Jesa smiled and nodded, but Koiray could see something was still bothering her. "Koiray, if you don't mind me asking, where have you been? You've been missing for a little over three months. You had your entire family in a panic, and your parents missed at least two major council sessions. Then, yesterday, Seiryu appears over the temple and tells me to send out search parties to look for something, no doubt he meant you."

Koiray let out a dry laugh. "It's a very long story, Lady Jesa. One that, unfortunately, can only be told to a few people."

"The people in your family can't get a break, can they?"

"No, I think that'd be too easy. Our lives can't ever seem to be simple."

"Well, anyway," she handed him a set of folded clothes, "I found these for you. They're a little worn, but they're clean. They should get you to Besaid. I didn't think you'd like to travel around Spira dressed in sleeping clothes."

"I appreciate it, thanks."

"So what do you think you're going to do when you get back?"

"Check in with my parents, then my friends," he answered. "see if I still have a job. After all, disappearing for three months right after you get promoted to Deputy Crimson Knight can't look good on anyone's resume."

"I'm sure you'll be fine," the head summoner assured. "I'm sure what happened to you was out of your control, and Crimson Knight Baed can't blame you for that."

A knock on the doorframe turned their attention, and Koiray looked to see an old acquaintance.

"Hey, Mom, Sir Koiray," Caiten said, standing awkwardly, "they said I'd find you here."

"Hey, Caiten," Koiray greeted, "long time no see."

Caiten smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess. You've been busy. Congrats on getting promoted to Deputy Crimson Knight of Besaid."

"Thanks." He paused. "Did you get taller from the last time I saw you?"

The young teenager beamed. "Yeah. I'm taller than Mom now, but Dad's still a little taller than me."

"Give it a few years," Koiray assured him.

"Did you need something?" Jesa asked.

"Yeah," Caiten pointed out the door, "one of the priests just told me to come get you. Uh, someone passed Seiryu's test."

The bridge of the head summoner's nose crinkled. "No one was scheduled to take the test."

Caiten held up his arms.

"It seems my work is never done," the head summoner sighed. "If you'll excuse me, Koiray. If I don't see you before you leave for Besaid, give your parents my best."

"I will."

"Come on, Caiten. Let's let Sir Koiray change in private."

---------

"Have a good night, Sir Koiray."

"Good seeing you again, sir."

"Glad you're back, sir."

Koiray answered them all with a smile and curt nod. It felt so… odd, the fact that people were recognizing him as the Deputy Crimson Knight. He still hadn't put on his traditional uniform (a uniform he had only worn twice), but he was recognized in any case.

The ride from Macalania was an awkward one. He was clearly the highest ranking guardian on the machine, and it seemed word had spread fast about his dramatic rescue from the ice plains of Macalania. Though, no one had been near brave enough to ask what had happened to him, and he preferred it that way.

As he continued to walk through the city, a sense of discomfort began to grow within him. He was earning looks from Besaid citizens as he passed, particularly from the city guardians, and he was unsure how to act. It all felt so surreal. It still hadn't registered that he had actually made it home.

He allowed his feet to take him where they wished, and before long, Koiray could see his grandparents' home. The sight of a figure standing in the middle of the street, however, caused him to suddenly stop.

The figure was as tall as himself and was dressed in the black, formal attire of a summoner's guardian. The man, appearing to be somewhere in his forties, wore the uniform with distinction. He had black hair that was trimmed neatly but was far from short. Thought his back was turned, Koiray instinctively knew who it was.

"Dad?" he heard himself ask, just loud enough for the man to hear.

It was enough to catch his attention, and Koiray soon found himself looking into the face of the legendary Sir Takoire II.

Takoire's expression conveyed complete disbelief as he met Koiray's gaze. "Koiray…?"

After all this time of wanting to return home, Koiray found himself at a loss for words. "Dad… I-"

The summoner's guardian suddenly moved towards him and held him close in a hug. "Koiray, I can't believe it. It's really you, isn't it?"

Pulling away, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm home."

Takoire embraced his son once more and laughed. "I thought… I never knew what to think… Your mom's going to be so happy to see you."

"Dad…" Koiray remained somewhat solemn. "The last time I was here, I attacked you with no reason, and I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry, for everything."

The Guardian of the Ages looked his son in the eyes and shook his head kindly. "No, that was my fault. I should have told you the whole story much sooner. It wasn't my right to keep something like that from you."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"No, Cheribum, no! I'm just glad that you're home all right." Takoire held his son by the shoulders and laughed. He brought his hand to Koiray's rough face. "What's this?"

Koiray looked at him in confusion before feeling the shadow that had grown on his face. "What? Oh, I guess I haven't been shaving lately." Meeting Takoire's expression, Koiray's mouth curved into a smile, and he joined in his father's laughter.

"Takoire, when you said you just wanted a breath of fresh air, I assumed that was all you were going to do."

At the sound of Lenne's voice, Koiray immediately turned. "Mom?"

Coming into full view, High Summoner Lenne froze. She stood dressed in the formal dress she wore for council sessions that displayed her rank as not only a summoner of Suzaku, Byakko, Genbu, and Seiryu, but of the Cheribum as well. Her expression remained a mixture of pure terror and delight. "…Koiray?"

Moving away from Takoire, Koiray took a few steps toward the high summoner. "Hey, Mom." Meeting her the rest of the way, the Deputy Crimson Knight greeted her with a warm hug. The feeling of Lenne hugging him back helped to solidify the fact that he was really home.

"Thank the Cheribum you're home," Lenne said into his shoulder.

Grinning at her, Koiray shrugged innocently. "Actually, he prefers to go by Kokon."

"Then you found him?" Lenne asked. "You found the Cheribum?"

"He's the reason I'm home."

"By the Cheribum, if it isn't my commanding officer back in town."

"Our commanding officer, remember? All the sector commanders report to him, not just you, Teyh."

Koiray's head turned to see three of his good friends standing by his grandparents home: Teyh and Maru dressed in their sector commander uniforms and Desa with a small smirk on her face.

Teyh raised an eyebrow at Maru. "You're just sore Sector 1 was rated higher than Sector 6 during the last evals."

Maru let out a small chuckle. "Oh, don't worry, I don't intend to let it happen again."

Although the two bantered with one another, they both stood with their arms crossed smiling at Koiray.

"You guys never change, do you?" Koiray greeted them each with a quick hug before looking to Desa. "Hey, Des."

She eyed him almost angrily, but Koiray could see her fighting to keep her mouth from forming a smile. "You had me worried, Koiray, you know that? You disappeared without a trace for months and then suddenly showed back in Besaid like nothing's happened! No, I take that back, the only difference is that you need to shave."

Koiray shrugged and laughed lightly. "I know." He paused. "You worry too much, Des."

Desa suddenly laughed and allowed her usual smile to return. "I worry enough for all of you. You three," indicating Teyh, Maru, and Koiray with her eyed, "don't have a single worry in the world."

"Not true," Koiray argued, "I worried whether or not I'd come back home."

Reluctantly, Desa met him in a hug. "I'm glad you're home okay."

"You know what? Me too."

Stepping back, Koiray felt someone pat him on the back, and everyone suddenly began to talk excitedly. He saw his Uncle Darka and Aunt Gaia come into view, Darka's arm wrapped around the latter. Unable to reach them, he waved with a smile. They returned the gesture.

Here he was with all his family and friends around him, and yet, it still felt surreal. His Grandpa Tidus and Grandma Yuna emerged from their home, and Koiray greeted them with a wide smile. It hadn't sunk in yet. As he looked at the smiling face of everyone around him, Koiray felt as if any moment now, he was going to wake up and himself in the past with Kokon nearby.

But he never did wake up, he never needed to. He was home.

Suddenly, his family and friends hushed, and Koiray looked to them with a trace of confusion. Their expressions all changed to small, light smiles with the exception of Desa who wore a mild smirk. "What?" he asked her.

"Nothing," she answered slyly. Cocking his head, Koiray continued to maintain his confused expression before his friend stepped away to reveal yet another figure.

The figure stood slightly shorter than he, and she wore a summoner's dress that indicated her as a summoner of Suzaku and Byakko. She had bright red hair that fell in waves past her shoulders and equally bright, green eyes. She wore a small smile at the sight of Koiray. "Hi, Takoire," she said.

Tucking his hands in his pockets and walking towards her, Koiray spotted Jassen leaning casually on one of the nearby buildings with his back to the wall and his arms crossed, but it barely registered. "Hey, Hara."

Her demeanor remained calm and in control. "It's been awhile."

Koiray quickly inhaled and nodded. "Yeah, it has."

She pointed to his face. "Nice, uh…"

"…yeah, that's what my dad and Des said."

"It's not a bad look, but it does kind of age you in a way."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Depends on what you're going for. If you're going for rugged, manly adventurer who lives on the road, then it works. But, if you're going for a young, handsome guardian who can't stay away from home too long then… not so much."

Rubbing his face lightly, Koiray frowned. "Then I guess this has to go because I've had my fill of adventure in the past few months, and now that I'm home, I'm here to stay."

Hara paused, as if carefully considering her words. "Well then, I guess that's a good thing for me because you, Sir Takoire, still owe me dinner."

Koiray mocked a serious frown, as if trying to recall such a debt. "I do? When… Since when did I invite you to dinner?"

"About a day or so after your birthday party. In fact, I think we were about to out to dinner when you first disappeared."

"Then I guess I'm obliged to you, milady," Koiray returned softly, speaking in his Bevelle accent while reaching for Hara's hand and placing a kiss on it. "That is," he spoke normally, "if I still have a job at this point."

She laughed. "I've got a hunch that Sir Baed hasn't counted you out yet."

They stood face to face with a moderate space between them, and Koiray found that he had to smile. Here he was, looking into Hara's eyes, and he didn't have to hide how nervous he was. He didn't have to mask the quiver in his voice. There was something different about himself, and he liked it.

Hara stepped forward and embraced him in a chaste hug and whispered, "Welcome home."

Hugging her back, Koiray felt the surreal feeling disappear, and he suddenly felt truly at home. "Thank you."

-------------------

Author's Notes: Again, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update. I didn't figure that college applications would take so long. Please leave a review and I'll try to update as soon as I can.