Aha ha, you know what? I'm making no more promises like 'I'll try to update in a day or two' or 'next chapter in a week'. It never happens, in fact it seems to make it less likely. How about this, I promise to update within a year. Ha ha...erm, maybe that's not such a good idea. Well, this one's not so bad, two weeks was it? Hope you enjoy and haven't given up on me just yet.
By the way, some people seem to think, and maybe they are right (you decide), that I'm not putting enough emphasis on the romance between Yuna and Tidus. Okay, I'm not a huge fan of romance, this is true, however take into consideration that I'm writing this from mostly Tidus' point of view and will continue to do so. There will be no rambling thoughts on how Yuna is considering her latest guardian. Also they've only known each other a few days, give a chance, ne?
The point is that this is only my interpretation of FFX. Naturally not everyone will agree with it, but that's natural. Hope you enjoy nonetheless.
The next morning, Tidus arose with the feeling that it was still the middle of the night. The fact that it was dark and the storm outside had not abated even a little, did nothing to help wake him up. Predictably Wakka was still sleeping and Tidus took the opportunity to get him back for the noogie by rolling him onto the floor.
Leaving the older blitzer fighting with his blankets, Tidus left the room and wandered toward the common room.
Surprisingly, everyone else was already up. Tidus wasn't sure what time it was but he'd become accustomed to being one of the first ones up in the morning, albeit from an inability to sleep. As soon as Wakka trailed in after him, still looking half asleep, the group had a hurried breakfast before they left.
Just as they were about to walk out the door, however, Rikku stopped dead in her tracks and put on a pained expression.
"It's not stopping, is it?" she observed, posing it as a statement rather than a question.
"Don't tell me you were hoping it would," Auron said bluntly.
A streak of lightning chose that moment to strike close to the Travel Agency, followed by a deep roll of thunder. Rikku shrieked and covered her ears miserably.
Auron turned to the door, "Fine, stay here," he said, taking her action as her answer.
Rikku looked up as he left and pouted, "Alright already," she said in a small voice then frowned, "But you didn't have to say it like that you know?" she added crossly.
Auron paid her no heed as he opened the door to the Agency.
"You could be more comforting or something," Rikku went on, "You know, try to cheer me up."
This earned her a bland stare from the man in red but no response as he walked out into the storm.
Rikku gave a huff, "You just don't get me at all, do you?" she called after him stubbornly, "Hey! Are you listening?"
Tidus shook his head in amusement. Auron was long gone but Rikku wasn't finished yet.
"I'm not scared," she declared to the world in general then cowered as a flash of lightning illuminated the room. She gritted her teeth and made a sound close to that of a growl, "I'm not scared, you hear?" she asserted loudly before marching to the door and following the legendary guardian out.
Tidus chuckled and walked after her, aware that the rest of the group were following him. Upon exiting they could all see Rikku giving Auron an earful to one side of the building. The man in red was pointedly ignoring her.
The group that had just exited the travel agency were about to join them when, out of nowhere, a man dressed in blue and green, who looked vaguely familiar to Tidus ran up and, pulling out a camera, took a photograph of them.
After doing so, and leaving the group feeling dazed in the aftermath of a flash that had nothing to do with the storm, he ran off again. Rikku and Auron stopped their one sided argument long enough to stare after him.
Tidus shook his head to clear his eyes of spots and looked around, "Er..." he started to say.
"Who was that?" Yuna wondered out loud, also sounding slightly dazed.
"He did look a bit familiar," Lulu added squinting in the direction he'd disappeared.
Kimahri made a sound half way between a grunt and growl and moved off to where Auron was now walking away from Travel Agency. After a moment the rest of the group followed. Rikku drifted closer to Tidus but, stubborn in her denial of any fear, did not reattach herself to his arm.
The storm was still as persistent as it had been the previous day but through the dark haze of fog and drizzle they could now make out on the forward horizon a dark line of shadow that Wakka informed Tidus was the tree line of the forests of Macalania.
The summoner's party walked in silence for most of the morning, except for the occasional squeal from Rikku. Tidus observed that the lightning towers mostly did their job and they were rarely in any real danger of being struck. It led the blitzer to wonder just how often travellers did get struck by the constant lightning.
Towards midday, as far as Tidus could judge, Yuna, who'd been walking in the centre of the group, stopped abruptly. Kimahri halted just behind her but the others carried on walking a few steps before they realized the summoner had stopped.
"Everyone," Yuna called, "Wait."
Wakka looked at her curiously, "What's up?" he asked.
"I...I have something to tell you," Yuna said quietly looking at the ground before her.
"Here?" Lulu wanted know, sounding mildly exasperated.
"Yeah, we're almost out of here," Rikku agreed sounding a bit panicked. She gestured desperately in the direction they'd been walking, "Let's go."
Yuna frowned, "I must say it now," she insisted.
Tidus gave the summoner a curious look while Wakka and Lulu looked at each other. The black mage's expression was significant but Wakka countered it with one of confusion.
Auron glanced around them briefly then nodded to a point a few metres away.
"There," he said simply.
The party turned as one and looked in the direction the legendary guardian had gestured. A short distance away was the next lightning tower, but this one had a shelter built around the base offering travellers a brief respite from the storm.
Rikku hurried forward on impulse, glad for the shelter, grabbing Tidus to go with her as she went. The rest of the group followed them at a slightly less frenetic pace. As soon as the whole party was safe beneath the shelter Yuna's guardian's turned to her expectantly.
The young summoner clasped her hands together, looking everywhere but at her friends' faces.
"I..."she started hesitantly, "Have decide to marry." The last part of the sentence was delivered abruptly as if Yuna was glad to be rid off it. Having said it she looked partly relieved, but more so apprehensive.
"I thought so," Lulu said immediately with a light sigh.
Tidus could only stare. He'd been so certain Yuna would turn the half-Guado down. He'd even told Shelinda as much.
Wakka still looked highly confused, "But...but why?" he wanted to know, "Why'd you change your mind?"
Yuna paused briefly, for a moment not looking too sure herself, "For Spira's future and Yevon's unity," she started, "I...I thought it would be the best thing to do."
Auron looked at her, "That's not good enough," he said bluntly.
"Wait," Lulu said suddenly narrowing her eyes slightly, "Is it...because of Lord Jyscal?"
Yuna opened her mouth to reply but Tidus had looked at the black mage abruptly upon her comment and before he could think, he looked back at the summoner and blurted, "Hey! That sphere."
Yuna looked at him in surprise at his comment along with the other guardians and Tidus felt slightly guilty as the summoner's expression fell.
"Show me," Auron said walking forward, showing interest.
Yuna adjusted her stance and frowned, "I cannot," she said firmly, "I must speak with Maester Seymour first. I'm truly sorry but this is... It is a personal matter."
Wakka rubbed his forehead, "You're kidding, ya?" he muttered to himself.
Tidus was still staring at Yuna, his regret at mentioning the sphere had abated to be replaced by confusion.
Auron had since nodded, "As you wish," he said, turning.
Tidus switched his gaze to the legendary guardian abruptly, his eyes widening slightly.
"I'm sorry," Yuna said, looking down.
"Just on thing," Auron added, pausing but not turning.
Yuna looked up, her expression knowing, "I won't quit my pilgrimage," she assured him.
Auron nodded, "Then it is...fine," he settled on continuing to walk away.
Tidus scowled abruptly and raised a hand, placing it against the man in red's shoulder to stop him from leaving.
"Wait a minute," he said frustrated at his own confusion and at Yuna and Auron's words, "You don't care? I mean, you're not going to stop her?"
Auron gave his once upon a time charge an even look, "No," he said finally, "I'm not. As long as she is willing to face Sin all else is her concern." He looked away but made no move to break out of Tidus' hold, "That is a summoner's privilege," he concluded, "As long as she journeys."
Tidus looked aghast for a moment then made a face, somewhere between a scowl and a frown, "But that's..." he stopped unsure of what to say. He seemed to be the only one disturbed by Auron's willingness to let Yuna do as she pleased, despite the summoner's unsure demeanour. Wakka and Lulu especially had nodded when Auron had explained Yuna's right to marry Seymour.
Tidus looked down and let his hand drop, and Auron walked past him to stand a short distance from the group. The blonde blitzer looked at Yuna searchingly but the summoner wasn't meeting anyone's eyes.
Wakka took a step forward and addresed Yuna hesitantly, "Just one question, ya?" he said before going on, "You have to marry Seymour? You can't just talk to him?"
The summoner looked him with a small frown, "I don't know," she replied, sounding a bit confused, "But I think it is the right thing to do."
Wakka mirrored her expression at this, "Okay," he said, "I guess."
Tidus had to admit, despite seeming to understand the situation neither Lulu nor Wakka looked entirely happy about it. Auron seemed indifferent as did Kimahri but Rikku was making an openly distressed face.
"Yunie," she said suddenly stepping forward and placing her hands on the summoner's shoulders. The Al Bhed opened her mouth to go on but at that moment a roll of thunder sounded, causing her to flinch.
She looked over her shoulder with a stern expression, "Quiet," she commanded the sky before looking back at Yuna, "I wish we could help somehow, some way."
Yuna smiled at her newest guardian and put her hand over the one of Rikku's, "It's okay, I'll be fine," she said gratefully.
Rikku seemed slightly mollified by this and returned the summoner's smile. Lulu and Wakka also looked slightly happier now that Yuna seemed more sure of herself.
Tidus stood toward the back of the group feeling more and more confused by the minute. Why did no one else seem concerned? They accepted what Yuna was saying with out ever asking the question 'why?' Yuna said 'I'm sorry' and Auron said 'It's fine'. She was 'willing' to face Sin. She was privileged. Tidus didn't understand.
With this new development, the blitzer suddenly felt more out of place than ever. Since coming to Spira he'd never been more aware of the fact that he didn't belong. And if he didn't belong with them, he'd be stuck in a foreign world, alone.
Tidus shook his head minutely. He didn't want to think about it. He could only hope things would become clearer soon.
Auron turned back to group, having decided they'd tarried long enough , "Next we're going to Macalania temple," he told them, "Yuna can talk with Seymour there. We Guardians will wait until they are done, then plan our next move. Understood?"
As the party moved off, walking toward the northern end of the Thunder Plains, Tidus mooched toward the back of the group, his mood flattened by Yuna's announcement. Rikku seemed to sense his demeanour and had drifted closer to Yuna for comfort from the storm instead of him. The summoner looked as though she quite appreciated the gesture, even though it was mostly self serving on Rikku's part.
Walking toward the back Tidus kept his eye on Yuna. He was actually quite surprised at how calm he was, considering what he'd just heard. The idea of Yuna marrying, especially marrying Seymour, made Tidus feel dejected and more than a little bit jealous. He'd long ago admitted to himself that he had feelings toward the young summoner that went beyond friendship.
How she felt in return still remained to be seen and Tidus had not forgotten Lulu's warning in Guadosalam, nor both the black mage's and Wakka's reluctance to have him see Yuna in that light. In any case, Tidus was careful about how he came across in deference to their wishes and out of respect for Yuna.
Perhaps, he mused to himself, this was the same reason he wasn't having much to say about Yuna's decision to marry in the first place. When Yuna had stopped them to make her announcement only moments before, his first impulse had been to demand her true reason for making that decision but now he realized, he kind of already knew.
It wasn't about love, it was about duty. Yuna was doing this in her capacity as a summoner not because she had any feelings for Seymour. As she had said herself, it was what she thought would be best for Spira.
This didn't, however, mean that Tidus agreed with her. He understood her need to take the pilgrimage to save Spira but he failed to see how marrying Seymour would bring anything good to the people of Spira, besides a few fleeting movements of happiness.
A few more hours of walking and, toward late afternoon, the group had reached the borders of Macalania Forest. The forest was so dense that, from the outside, it looked almost solid and it took a few minutes of looking to distinguish the individual branches and trunks of the trees.
They entered the forest via a path that ran from the Thunder Plains down into the undergrowth of Macalania. The first thing that struck Tidus when he walked through the gap in the trees was the drop in temperature. It was marginal but noticeable and it was a surprise because Tidus had expected it to be warmer in amongst the trees.
It took Rikku, who had been walking beside Yuna with her hands clasped against her chest and her shoulders hunched, a moment to realize they were no longer on the Thunder Plains and the storm could now only be heard distantly. As soon as she did, however, she straightened with a grin and gave a little jump for joy, eliciting a chuckle from Yuna.
Tidus looked around the new area as he followed the rest of the group deeper into Macalania. Despite his consuming thoughts, he had to take a moment to appreciate just how beautiful Macalania was. The trees were unlike anything the blitzer had ever seen. The bark was a dark grey blue and within the cracks and crevices of the branches, the tree's sap had collected and dried, forming multi faceted crystals, some as big as Tidus' hand, which shone and sparkled even in the dim light under the canopy. The trees themselves did not have leaves but seemed to grow huge flowers, which were also crystalized in some way. They sparkled the most and all through the tall, dim forest one's eye was caught by constant flashes of colourful light. The air was also hung with the pollen of the flowers and particles of the crystals, making it shimmer.
Even the tree's trunks and the ground of the path was covered in a faint shine from the crystal dust. As he was staring at the ground in interest it took Tidus a moment to realize that he'd fallen behind and the rest of the group had walked on ahead. The blitzer hurried forward and, as he rounded a bend in the path, saw Auron waiting for him.
Tidus stopped and matched the legendary guardian's thoughtful stare with an expectant one of his own.
"You're worried about Yuna," Auron stated after a moment.
Tidus sighed and walked forward, "Of course I'm worried about her," he said, "I mean, what is she thinking?"
Auron brought a hand up to his chin, "The simplest answer would be..." he started then looked over his shoulder to where the rest of the group could just be seen further up the path, "In exchange for agreeing to marry him, she hopes to negotiate with Seymour."
Tidus frowned deeply, "Negotiate?" he echoed not liking the sound of it, "Negotiate what?"
"I wonder," Auron said still looking up the pathway.
Tidus followed his gaze, noting that the group had paused to wait for them, "All by herself?" he wondered, sounding anxious.
"She's strong," Auron pointed out., looking back at the blitzer, "But Seymour is the better negotiator."
"We should...we should do something," Tidus said while wondering what exactly they could do.
"Yuna wants it this way," Auron said simply.
Tidus made a face and shook his head, "I don't get it," he admitted with a frown, "Doesn't she trust us?"
Auron gave a mirthless smile, "On the contrary, she doesn't want us caught up in whatever she's planning," he told his one time charge.
Tidus looked at the man in red sharply, "That's what I thought," he said, "But that makes me worry even more." He looked back up the path, "She could just tell us," he added quietly.
Auron made a shrugging motion, "That's the way she is," he said succinctly, "She's naïve, serious to a fault and doesn't ask for help."
Tidus nodded absently, "Probably," he murmured, still staring up the path.
"Yuna's easy to read," the man in red added.
Tidus nodded with a small smile, "Yeah she is," he agreed.
"But hard to guard," Auron went on, earning him a curious stare from the blonde blitzer, "Stand by her...always."
Tidus nodded easily, even as Auron started to walk away. I plan to, he said to himself. He hurried after the legendary guardian after a moment and by the time he reached the group, the two latecomers had drawn even.
Rikku turned around as they approached, putting her hands on her hips in jest, "Slowpokes," she called.
Tidus smiled genuinely, "Sorry," he said in return then immediately looked at Yuna. The summoner seemed a bit lost in thought and was staring at the ground.
It occurred to Tidus in that moment that he'd probably been fooling himself all along. What were the chances of him and Yuna ever being together? What would happen when he returned home, if he did? Or had he given up on that? Searching his feelings, he realized he had not. At every turn in his journey he was still subconsciously searching for a way to get back home.
Perhaps it would be better if he accepted the fact that Yuna marrying Seymour didn't actually have anything to do with him, duty or not.
"Yuna," he called softly, causing her to look up, "Let's go."
The summoner nodded, a slight flush creeping in to her cheeks as she realized what she'd been doing. She smiled briefly and brightly before moving off down the path.
Tidus watched her go, his own smile slipping as realized her smile had made his heart skip a beat.
My page breaks don't seem to be working, therefore my author's notes are in bold. Hope you liked it, please R&R if you like. Arigato.