Chapter 34: Dreams Within Dreams
Tidus strolled home with his hands in his pockets and his gaze on the ground. When he reached the houseboat deck, he saw Auron sitting on the rail and gazing out over the ocean. "You know, I don't appreciate you sitting out here waiting for me like I have a date curfew."
"I'm sitting here because I like the view." Auron's long, thin ponytail stirred slightly in the midnight breeze. "Where is your date?"
"Heading home, I guess."
"She didn't have fun?" Auron reached into his pocket and drew out a memory sphere. He clicked it on and set it on the rail to record the view of the ocean at night, then discreetly turned it toward Tidus.
"She said she did, but …" Tidus shrugged.
"She dumped you?"
The teen frowned. "I have never been dumped, thank you very much."
"I see."
"She just misses her old boyfriend."
Auron's brows rose in mild surprise. "Sounds like you could use a drink." The warrior monk set his earthenware jug of nog on the railing of the boat beside him.
Tidus blinked at the jug without moving toward it. "You're kidding, right?"
"It'll put hair on your chest. Unless you're not ready for that kind of thing yet," Auron commented over his shoulder, one brow raised.
Tidus was in just enough of a funk that he marched forward and accepted the challenge. Popping the cork, he took a mouthful and swallowed the sour-tasting stuff. He was surprised by a sweet aftertaste after he set the jug back down. However, he was even more surprised when the burn kicked in, making his throat, chest, and stomach feel like they were on fire. But as he coughed and choked on the strong drink, he could have sworn he saw Auron smirk.
Otherwise, the warrior monk ignored the teen's discomfort and looked back toward the sea. "Moderation is an important value, is it not?"
"What's that stuff made of? Bug poison? Shoe polish? Eye of newt?" Tidus coughed again and wiped his mouth, wishing he could get the taste off of his tongue.
"Supposedly drinking more will get rid of that first kick."
Tidus looked at the jug with doubt, but then drank another mouthful. Predictably, the same thing happened. He clenched his teeth at the burn that brought tears to his eyes and shook his head.
"Knowing when to distinguish between logical and illogical consequences is good, too. Logically, something which causes pain once will do it again. Have a seat and tell me what you did to this girl to make her dump you."
"What makes you think ..." Tidus's face suddenly felt hot and light. "… I'd want to sit down and tell you anything."
"The fact that you're going to hit the deck in about five seconds if you don't."
He had no sooner said it than the teen swayed backward and landed on his rear.
Auron quietly chuckled.
"Heh, heh, heh ..." Tidus imitated his laugh with disgust and pushed himself up on his hands and knees. Crawling to the rail, he pulled himself back to his feet. Then, feeling sick, he leaned over the top and draped his arms over the side. "You're supposed to be taking care of me, not getting me drunk."
"I'm not the one who caused your discomfort. You chose to drink two big mouthfuls of my special nog. I'm just pointing out that every action, or lack of action, has consequences. And taking responsibility for your choices is more helpful than placing blame."
"I'm not blaming anyone."
"But you feel angry? Resentful?"
"I told you already. She misses her old boyfriend."
"You remind her of him?"
Tidus quieted and closed his eyes, trying to quell the sick feeling in his stomach. "Yeah."
"In a good way, or in a bad way?"
"Well, it sounded like a good thing, but … I'm not good enough."
"Did she call out his name while you were in a moment of premature passion?"
Tidus lifted his chin to see that Auron wore a bemused expression. "You think you're funny, don't you, old man?"
"Not half as humorous as you are, kid." Auron offered his jug again. "Care for a third?"
Tidus took a third drink just to spite him. Once the burn passed, he snorted and looked at the ocean. Now, he really felt sick.
"So, what now? Do you want revenge?"
The thought of revenge felt good at first, but Tidus shook his head. "No."
"Wise choice. Revenge feeds on itself, creating a cycle that never ends."
"How would you know?"
"Revenge gave me this scar."
Tidus turned his attention toward Auron again. "Revenge because of a woman?"
Auron returned a cynical snort. "Depends on your definition of woman."
The youth gave up trying to figure out the monk's riddles. "I just don't understand how it could be a perfect night and end so abruptly like that. I even passed her stupid little test."
"Test?" Auron quirked a brow in curiosity.
"She started asking me questions about deep stuff. And she liked my answers. But as soon as I kissed her -"
"Maybe you're just a bad kisser."
"I am not," Tidus snapped. "I just wasn't him. And I can't be someone I'm not just to make someone else happy." Resting his elbow on the rail, chin-in-hand, he looked down into at the moon's light reflecting on the ripples of the black water gently lapping against the boat and dock.
"Was there anything you would have done differently?"
Reviewing the situation in his mind, Tidus shook his head. "I don't think so."
"Then, don't blame yourself." Auron lifted his jug, resting it expertly on his forearm, and drank a sip without even flinching. "Did you love her?"
Tidus reluctantly shook his head. "I liked her, but it was just one date."
"Then, nothing was lost." Auron set his jug back down. "Did you have a good time?"
Tidus considered their conversation and the fun that they had while it lasted. "Yeah."
"Then you made a good memory. There are other girls out there, you know."
The teen sighed heavily. "Yeah, I know." A small, but cocky grin curled his lips. "I might as well let them enjoy me, huh?"
Auron sighed and shook his head at that Jecht-like ego before offering the jug again. "How about another drink?"
"Pass." Tidus pushed the jug away. "I'm going to bed." Straightening, he headed toward the door, though he still felt unstable enough to wish he didn't have to release the rail to cross the deck. He paused halfway to the cabin and turned back to face the monk. "Oh, and by the way, if you ever insist on chaperoning my dates again by standing in my room like that, I will retaliate when you least expect it." Somewhat unsteady on his feet, he stumbled away and entered the houseboat.
))((
Auron chuckled and reached for the recording sphere to turn it off. Then, he tucked it into his pocket. "Just like his father … and yet … maybe not."
Kaila and Bahamut appeared at his side, and Kaila stepped forward with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt him."
"I'm not the one who needs the apology," Auron replied. "Although I'm surprised you told him about the kid that he was modeled after."
"I didn't tell him anything that would connect to Shuyin."
"He said you tested him."
"Yes. I wanted to see if he had different thoughts and opinions in matters that created serious problems for Shuyin. Based on his answers, I think Tidus is capable of being a good guardian without letting his impulses get the best of him and or carrying harmful guilt."
"I gave him my own test just now. He's not a drinker like his dad, so that's one less grief for his summoner to worry with. And he harbors no bad feelings toward you despite his hurt."
"Then, putting Kaila back into the pattern worked." Bahamut looked at her.
Kaila saddened. "Auron, I know I was supposed to be with him again tomorrow, but … I can't. It's too hard to be with him, but pretend I don't know him very well. We grew up together. And yet … he's just different enough from the person I once knew. I don't think the person he needs tomorrow is me. I think it's you."
The warrior monk was puzzled. "I wasn't here the first time his mother died. How can I be the constant in his pattern?"
"Her death is the event that forced him to quit school, join the Abes, and live independently. To stick close to that pattern, I think that means tomorrow Tidus has to lose you."
Auron grew quiet, clearly troubled.
Bahamut faced Kaila with worry. "Will Tidus be able to cope with that alone, if you're not there for him like you were with Shuyin?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "But if I were physically interactive, it would be easy to make excuses for holding onto him when I need to be letting go. And he won't miss this Zanarkand as much if there is no one here for him to come home to." Kaila took one last, longing glance toward the houseboat's cabin, then left.
))((
The next morning, Tidus woke feeling terrible. He mentally cursed Auron for offering him those drinks last night and lifted his head to see his alarm clock. It was past noon. Wasn't there something he had to do today? Game ...
"Game!" Sitting up in bed, he threw off the covers and stumbled to his drawers to look for a uniform. But then he remembered he wouldn't be playing. He'd been benched. Maybe it was a good thing Kaila didn't want to come to the game if all he did was sit on the bench. Not wanting to dwell on his losses, Tidus checked the memo pad on the wall for the game time and decided to concentrate on getting rid of the aftereffects of the nog. Maybe eating something would help.
Tossing the uniform to the rumpled bed, he left his room for the kitchen. There, he buttered some bread and popped it into the mini-oven. After selecting the toast option, he poured himself some juice to rinse the awful fuzz from his tongue while he waited.
Auron pushed the door open and smirked at the teen's sleepy expression and messy hair. "And you only had three drinks. That's called a hangover, by the way."
"Ya think?" Tidus cast him a sarcastic glance to match his tone then clutched his head. "Gah, why didn't you stop me after the first one?"
"And miss seeing you like this?" Auron poured himself some juice and leaned against the counter.
"Would a healing potion get rid of it?"
"Should - if there's any left."
"Maybe I should go to the game early and get some from the first aid kit in the locker room." Tidus stretched his back and arms as he yawned, trying to bring his senses back into focus.
"There's still some in the bathroom cabinet. And you're not going to the game today." Auron scratched at his light beard scruff.
Tidus snapped out of his stretch. "I have to even if I'm benched. They'll kick me off the team if I miss games without a valid excuse. My grades have gone up since tutoring with Kaila, though, so I should be off the bench soon. Although she probably doesn't want to work with me anymore after last night." Discouraged, he pulled a chair out from the bar, flipped it around backward, and straddled it, folding his arms across the back and resting his forehead on them.
"That's not going to be a concern for you anymore. Today, you have to go get a job."
Tidus lifted his head. "A what?"
"A job," Auron repeated more clearly. "That thing that brings money in to pay for your food and docking rent."
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to be leaving soon, and you need to be able to support yourself."
"But … I'm not even seventeen yet."
"Which is why you need to show me that you can handle being on your own before I go."
"But why do you have to go?"
"Other matters need my attention."
Tidus frowned at that vague answer. "That's it? After all these years, you're going to just walk out without any real explanation?"
"You knew this was coming. I warned you when you were thirteen. You have six months before your age bumps you into ownership responsibilities for this boat. If you don't want to lose your home, you have to get a job."
"Nobody's going to hire me. The only thing I'm any good at is blitzball, but nobody will even consider me for a professional slot at this age," Tidus argued.
"The Abes might."
"Because I'm Jecht Jr.?" His father was the one thing that still got under his skin rather than rolling off of his back. "You expect me to be like him, don't you? Just like everyone else ... I thought you were different, but you know what? You're just like him. Go ahead and walk away because I don't need anyone watching over me anymore." Tidus stood from the chair and slammed it back against the bar. The mini-oven dinged, letting him know his toast was ready. As he retrieved his breakfast, his fingers accidentally hit the rack. Jerking his hand back with a mild wince, he pinched his toast from the grill anyway and transferred it to his plate. Glowering at Auron, he took his breakfast out of the kitchen to eat alone in the livingroom instead.
))((
Auron sighed, remembering the little boy who burnt his fingers and fussed at him for not giving him a bandage. This time, he had to allow Tidus to endure the sting by himself. "It's going to be a long year," he groaned to the Fayth as they appeared before him.
Kaila sympathized with the warrior monk's unease at purposefully pushing Tidus away. "You won't have to endure the whole year. This time flow will go quickly like the rest, as soon as he is established in a regular pattern again." She placed a hand on the guardian's shoulder. "He'll forgive you, Auron. He can't see it right now, but you're not abandoning him the way Jecht did."
Bahamut added. "Tidus's physical training is of utmost importance now, and he needs to learn how to take the initiative in prioritizing. It's the final step toward his exit."
Auron nodded, accepting their wisdom where their creation was concerned. That afternoon, Auron took Tidus to the Abes management offices to speak to the head coach and owner of the professional league team. Following Shuyin's pattern, they rejected Tidus until he begrudgingly dropped his father's name. Then, following a private invitation for team tryouts, based on his extraordinary talent, they gave him a full-time slot as right forward.
With Tidus's physical training secured, Auron began the gradual process of backing away from the management of the houseboat. This led to a lot of arguments over minor things, and Auron eventually moved out. He returned to check on his almost-grown charge once a day, then once a week. But in the end, he promised occasional visits, and then the warrior monk left as mysteriously as he came.
))((
Naya stuck her head out the door and raised her fingers to her lips to give a piercing whistle. "Listen up, everyone! We've only got a few minutes before the game starts! Who wants an autograph from Jecht Jr.?"
Inside the hallway, Tidus frowned. "I have my own name."
"Doesn't matter. You're new, and you're the son of a legend. Smile, look pretty, and do your sphere kick. They'll love you, even if you mess up. Have fun while you can because once you become yesterday's news, they won't tolerate screw-ups and losing streaks. Fans are the most devoted, yet hardest critics of all." She grinned as anxious blitzball fans ran down the ramp to meet him and ask for autographs. "Sorry, only time for a few. We'll drag him to the Waterwall sports bar in the Neon District after the game. The rest of you can get a piece of him there." Naya shut the door to keep the crowd size under control.
"What?"
Naya casually strolled back to him. "This will get your mind off the nerves. Trust me." The woman folded her arms over her short, yellow vest and leaned against the wall behind her to wait.
"Have fun," he told himself. It was something important he had told himself a long time ago - something he had forgotten recently. Accepting pen and paper from one of the fans, he gave the boy a smile and signed his name. "There you go."
The boy squinted at the signature. "Tidus? You're the guy that took Zak's place, right?"
"You can actually read my handwriting? My language arts teacher said it sucked."
"Well, it still sucks, but I can read it."
"Oh."
"You look really young for a pro player." Another fan handed him a paper.
"Well, I guess I kind of ... am." He signed his name and returned it.
))((
Bahamut watched unseen from the sidelines, knowing he would have been next in line. Shuyin had signed his ball with a note to Lenne, but Lenne couldn't be a part of this re-enactment, and neither could he. As much as he wished he could talk and interact with Tidus the way he used to with Shuyin, Bahamut now had to remove himself from Tidus's time flow the way Kaila had. But doing so made him feel like he lost a big brother and a good friend. It seemed silly to cry at a happy event like the opening game of the blitzball season. So the boy poked a finger at the moisture collecting in the corner of his eye. But a moment later, he felt Kaila slip an arm across his shoulders to give him a supportive pat. And together, they watched the final stage of their ripple ricochet in unpredictable directions.
))((
Tidus straightened after signing autographs and noticed the tall man in the red haori at the side of the crowd. His last days with Auron had been full of tension, and Tidus had not seen him in a couple of months, yet here he was at the opening of his first professional game. "You came. You actually came," he said in disbelief as he approached Auron in the crowd.
Auron gave the young man a tolerant sigh as if he never should have doubted him.
Feeling awkward for a moment, Tidus recovered with an optimistic gin. "Want my autograph?"
"Unless you're signing a paycheck over to me, I'm not interested."
Tidus smirked at the monk's familiar dry humor. "Hey, you want to come with us to the Waterwall after we win?"
"That sounds pretty confident."
"The Abes were last year's champions, and the only difference in the roster this year is me. And I'm pretty good if I do say so. Well, at least I'm not a bad player, or I wouldn't have made it on the team, right?"
"What if you lose?"
"We'll have fun anyway," Tidus insisted. "We'll get some dinner, pick up a few girls, go dancing ..." He did his little victory dance, which made the girls in the crowd around him giggle. "See? They think it's a great idea." He faced the girls. "Anyone want to go with us?"
"I do! I do!"
"Me!
"Me, me!"
Auron rolled his eyes. "My idea of fun and your idea of fun are two very different things."
"You can't dance, can you?" Tidus teased. "That's okay. I'll let you have all the older women, so you won't have to work so hard to keep pace with me."
"Hmph."
"Oh, come on, Auron. Don't be such a stiff."
"Time's up! Sorry, but the game's about to begin!" Naya announced, ushering the fans back out.
"Waterwall after the game," Tidus reminded him, then waved to the crowd before following his teammate back behind closed doors to get ready for the start of the game.
))((
The fans behind the stadium ran for their seats, but the two Fayth followed Auron below the sphere pool to stand in a remote corner to watch the game. Bahamut knew the Abes would lose their first match, so he couldn't help but think about Tidus's comments as they waited for the opening ceremony to begin. "His arrogance still worries me," he commented above the music blaring over the stadium's speakers.
"It's Jecht-itis," Auron muttered. "A genetic personality disorder that breeds overconfidence. The only thing that can cure it is an angry shoopuff, a mouthful of shoopuff milk, and …" The warrior monk quieted as he looked to the stadium where his old friend once played. "And the realization that you've lost your home and the people you love."
"Losing was always hard for Shuyin. He was such a perfectionist when it came to his games," Bahamut remembered. "The Abes lost to the Duggles once because he went for a long shot, rather than passing to the guy behind him. He was really low that night, but then some drunk mouthed off to him. Shuyin lost control and hit him pretty hard. He doesn't look that strong, but pound for punch, he could pack a wallop. We will need to interrupt that incident. If his teammates hadn't invited him to dinner after the loss, Shuyin would have gone home, so maybe erasing that invitation will be enough to avoid it. Tidus doesn't need that memory floating around in his head."
"Jecht lost his self-control a few times, but only when he was drinking. Since Tidus doesn't seem to share his father's affection for alcohol, that shouldn't be a problem for him."
"Self-control doesn't seem to be an issue for him," Kaila agreed, remembering her conversation with him on the hill. "Overconfidence, however, especially with physical challenges and girls …"
"If he ever becomes overconfident around Yuna, I'll bring him down so fast it'll make his head spin." Auron gave her a cautionary side-glance. "I made a promise to her father, too."
Bahamut looked to Auron. "You would stay with him after we release him into reality?"
"My promise doesn't end until he does."
The two Fayth at the unsent man's side knew well enough what he meant.
"I owe Jecht that much for taking my place as the Final Aeon. I owe Tidus that much so that he doesn't feel abandoned to his fate."
Bahamut frowned. "The night Shuyin got into that fight … it was ten years to the day that Jecht disappeared. They made a big deal out of it over the loudspeakers during the game. Maybe that's why his game was in a funk - the high expectations of playing like his father."
The game's opening ceremonies began, and the three spirits turned their attention to the sphere pool where the lights suddenly come on. Cheers grew louder than the music. Tidus had just stepped into place for the throw-in, and the crowd was excited to see that Jecht's son was playing.
))((
Later in the season, after his first major failure in the game against the Duggles, Tidus exited the back rooms of the stadium without a word to autograph seekers. Thankfully, there weren't many still hanging around, but this time, thanks to Bahamut, his teammates didn't invite him to dinner afterward. Without having bothered to shower or change into something dry, Tidus walked home alone.
He had no sooner arrived and dropped his duffle bag, however, when someone knocked on his front door. Choking back the frustration he'd been fighting since half-time, he hastily wiped at the tears burning his eyes and drew a breath to appear more presentable before opening the door.
"Can I come in?" Auron greeted him.
Tidus was stunned to see the warrior monk had returned, but turning back around, he left the door open so that Auron could come or go as he pleased. At the bottom of the ramp leading up to the door, he stopped and gave a tired stretch as if nothing were wrong. "What do you want?"
Auron came inside the door and stopped. "It was a bad call. Your team lost because of you."
"You came to say that?"
"It's been ... ten years." Closing the door, the warrior monk came down the ramp, and Bahamut followed, unseen to Tidus's eyes. "I thought you'd be crying."
"Who, me?" Tidus acted as if he didn't know what Auron was talking about.
Bahamut was relieved to see how quickly Tidus managed to hold his emotions under control, despite the disheartening loss and guilt. But it was still hard to see him like this. If Shuyin were here, he could have slopped some polymer goop in his face to make him laugh, but Bahamut had no idea how to cheer Tidus. Tidus was usually able to cheer himself. But not tonight. The boy decided it was time to break his own rules about contact. So he ran to the ramp and revealed his presence. "You cried."
Tidus turned at the sound of the boy's voice, just in time to see him disappear. Blinking in disbelief, he scanned the living room.
Auron, though surprised that the Fayth chose to reveal his presence, however brief, pretended not to see. Instead, he reached behind himself and shut the door. "You were trying to do that shot, weren't you? For Jecht?"
"No way." Tidus waved it off like it was nothing. "I gave up on that shot a long time ago. It's just not my style." He scratched his head, clearly puzzled about whether or not he really saw a little boy in his living room.
Auron quirked a brow at his behavior. "Something wrong?"
"A creepy little kid was standing here one minute, and the next, he was gone."
Bahamut frowned slightly and chose to reappear again, startling him. "Perhaps he's your conscience reminding you that it's rude to call someone creepy."
"Ah!" Tidus jumped back, but the boy faded once more. "There! Did you see him that time?"
Auron kept a straight face. "You're tired. Perhaps you should go to bed early tonight and get some rest."
"Look, I'm not losing my mind," Tidus insisted. "A little kid was standing right there! He's the same one that shows up in my dreams - only this time I'm awake!"
Bahamut had been silently snickering into his hands at his little prank, which Shuyin would have loved. But at the mention of dreams, he stiffened and stared at Tidus, stunned. He cast a glance over his shoulder to where Kaila stood quietly at the door, but she met his questioning look with a bewildered shrug.
"You have dreams?" Auron asked.
Tidus was mildly offended. "Of course, I have dreams. Doesn't everyone?"
Auron chose his words more carefully. "Are they new dreams? Or do they feel like strange memories? Can you remember much about them?" Maybe they had not been as successful as they thought at redirecting his soul's former thoughts.
Looking around the room in uncertainty, Tidus explained. "Well ... I see that kid's face. That's how it always starts. And then I feel like I need to go somewhere, but I can never reach it. But then it switches from me running toward this place that's out of reach, to me running away from something chasing me."
Auron frowned slightly. "What are you running from?"
Tidus shook his head. "I don't know. But when I stop running, I see my old man's face. And then I ... I change."
"Change?"
"I feel myself changing into some kind of ... sea serpent," he admitted with a small laugh as if he felt foolish saying it. "It's crazy, I know. I mean there's this big, long tail and these water-wing type fins and my blitz-guard and gloves turn into these clawed ..." Tidus held his hands before him like claws, but paused as he met Auron's gaze. "Anyway, I just get this feeling about it when I wake up. Like I'm glad it was a just a dream, you know?"
He dreams new dreams.
The Fayth looked to each other with shock and concern. Their illusion could dream. They had succeeded at creating a living sacrifice out of a dead soul to deceive Yu Yevon. He could grow like a human and think for himself. And now … he could dream. They should have been happy. Instead, they understood Tidus's dream and were grateful that he did not.
Tidus could tell by the look on Auron's face that perhaps he shouldn't have said anything. Lowering his hands, he absently scratched an arm instead. "Sorry. I … didn't mean to weird out on you." He tried to change his mood. "Hey, how about we hit the Waterwall tonight for a late dinner! I haven't eaten yet - my treat. They pay me more than your stingy allowance ever did," he joked to the warrior monk.
"Waterwall is closed tonight," Auron lied.
"Closed?" Tidus's nose crinkled. "They never close."
"There was a nasty fight at the bar, and someone got hurt. They had to close."
"Oh. Well, how about we grill some fish?"
"Not tonight. I just wanted to check in with you. I can't stay long."
"Oh." Tidus nodded in somber acceptance.
"Are you going to be all right?" Auron cautiously asked.
"Yeah. The silence just … gets a little heavy sometimes," he admitted. "Not that I miss you mooching off of me or anything," he added to cover his disappointment.
Auron glanced toward the door where the Fayth stood. "I'd better be going, then."
"Right." Tidus walked with him to the door and opened it for him. "Come to my next game, and maybe we can have dinner then."
Auron knew better than to make that promise. "We'll see." He paused, wanting to say more, but then he turned and left. At the end of the pier, he checked to be sure Tidus remained inside with the door shut before speaking to the two Fayth who followed. "He saw himself change into an aeon, didn't he? Did he see himself turning into Sin?"
Bahamut materialized, and he was worried. "I don't know. Tidus doesn't even know what an aeon is … unless Shuyin's memories are seeping through. But none of Lenne's aeons were sea serpents."
"Maybe he somehow absorbed our intentions toward him." Kaila materializing on Auron's other side as they continued walking away from the docks. "We've spent a lot of time with him in this dream, and he's made of dream magic."
"What if it's not just our projections? What if this really is a premonition of things to come for him? Does that mean he'll be changed into the Final Aeon to defeat Sin, ... or become Sin?"
"Are you changing your mind about sending him out there?" Auron challenged.
"Auron?" Kaila stopped walking. "What have we become? We're trying to stop Yevon from sacrificing summoners and their guardians, yet … we've created Tidus to be a sacrifice, too."
"You didn't think anything about sacrificing his father." Auron frowned, remembering his friend.
"Jecht was just an illusion. We didn't know he had regained his soul until after Yevon tried to take it. I know he seemed real to you, but when we sent him to Braska, he wasn't. Tidus already has a real soul because Shuyin was real. And if he can dream about his aeon form, maybe he has a real conscience, too—his own conscious, instead of Shuyin's. If he's actually changed Shuyin's soul to make it his own, doesn't that make him alive somehow? What if he's no longer Shuyin at all? What if that makes him unable to resist Yevon the way we hoped? It would be pointless and cruel to send him out there if his chances are no better than Jecht's. And yet ... we can't keep him trapped in this dream forever if he's real."
"He's not real, Kaila. He can't be real," Bahamut argued though he seemed to be arguing more with himself than her.
"Then what is he?" Kaila challenged.
"His soul experienced a previous death, so technically he is still part of Shuyin's spirit. He does seem to have his own opinions, goals, and desires, even if they aren't Shuyin's. But none of that changes the fact that he's made of magic. In fact, I honestly can't picture Tidus being willing to bow to Yevon because he doesn't know or care who Yevon is. You know? Maybe that's enough."
Auron frowned at their indecision. "Jecht should be told. Tidus may be your champion against Yevon, but illusion or not, he's still Jecht's son." Upset, the unsent guardian turned and walked away.
