Chapter One- Child of the Church

St. Ilion, the epitome of small village beauty, sat on the lips of the ocean, nestled within trees, protecting its inhabitants from the rest of Spira. It was home to approximately 600-700 people and it grew no bigger than that. It was seldom that some left the village for cities like Luca or Bevelle. Also it was seldom that many people came to live on the island. Those that lived there loved it, but for people passing through it was not to their liking. The people of St. Ilion were glad to hear that and wanted to keep it that way. It was the kind of town in which everyone knew everyone and a family history lesson was always standard dinner conversation. The economy was built solely out of the fishing industry and the delightful hand made wood furniture that was produced. Even though it was not a large town it still had a temple and that temple was the only place a person could truly go for peace and quiet.

St. Ilion may have been small but they had room enough for a prominent family; the Ishimarus. The patriarch of the family, Omi Ishimaru, was the head priest of the St. Ilion temple and a former warrior monk. With his wife, Emi, he lived in the biggest house on St. Ilion only because of his seven children. As they grew older many of them left for the more populated islands. All of his sons had become warrior monks and continued the Ishimaru tradition of honing the overdrive and becoming a relative legend in Bevelle. Omi's daughters married respectable men and he doted upon their children. The only child he worried about was his middle son, Eishi.

A stubborn, hard-headed young man, Eishi had to be the only warrior monk to take a wife against the wishes of his father. The young lady was indeed very respectable and came from a family of summoners from Kilika. Omi's only problem was that Eishi had come home with her and never gave it a second thought. He assured Omi that he was still a warrior monk but that he felt it was time to settle down and have a family. Omi knew that feeling but he wanted his sons to do better than him. He loved Emi and being married to her guaranteed a place in the priesthood, for her father had been a priest. But a warrior monk and a summoner was not a safe marriage and it the other members of the Ishimaru family protested to Omi. Much to their dislike, Omi took Eishi and Asami in and shunned the other members of the family. He had his reasons for letting them stay. ~*~*~*~

The day was hot and extremely humid on the island. Eishi and his older brother, Asaru, stood on the docks looking for the ferry carrying their other two brothers, Kento and Masaru, and their three sisters, Keiko, Yumiko, and Ami and all of their family members. They were visiting to celebrate the news that Eishi would be a father for the first time and they were glad that it finally happened.

Eishi paced the wooden dock, biting his lower lip and muttering to himself. He should have been at home with Asami, she was due any day now and he worried about her. Asaru watched him and said, "Stop, Eishi. You're going to wear a hole in the docks and I don't think the fishermen will be pleased." "Asaru, I'm worried! Asami's at home alone! I should be there!"

"Mother's with her, Eishi. So technically she's not alone." Asaru sat upon one of the crates that were labeled "Besaid Fabrics".

Eishi shook his head, long black ponytail waving wildly. "Ugh! You don't understand!"

Asaru laughed. "I'm the father of five children, Eishi. I do understand."

As he said this a ferry pulled up into the port and on the deck was Eishi's other siblings. They waved wildly and shouted down to Asaru and Eishi and Eishi shook his head as if embarrassed. ~*~*~*~

The Ishimaru house was full of noise; laughter, crying, shouting, and talking. Omi listened to it from his study and couldn't help but think that he missed it. Eishi peered into the study and said softly, "Father, is there anyway we could have had this without all of them here?"

Omi scowled at Eishi. "You know, Eishi, that we do this for every family member."

"Yes, I know, but . I wanted this to be a quiet affair. Not some huge party!" Eishi exclaimed. Omi shook his head and laughed. Eishi had a point there and he had to agree. Eishi sat across from his father and crossed his legs upon the desk. Omi pushed Eishi's legs off.

"You're not five anymore, Eishi, you can't do that. You know better now."

"I know." Eishi stood up again and walked around the study. "Well, I'm going to go and check on Asami."

Omi watched as his son left the room. That boy would be the end of him.

The Receiving Festival was the Ishimaru family ritual and was always a big affair. If you didn't invite your entire family then you were going to have an undisciplined child, if all of your family was present the child would be a good. Everyone was present and to Omi that was a good sign. Eishi walked around hugging and kissing his brothers and sisters, pouring more sake and answering questions about Asami's family.

Asami sat beside Omi and Emi and listened to the others talk about her. She didn't care for she had Eishi and she was contented. Asami, with her long dark hair and hazel eyes, sat quietly, feeling her baby move like a slick sea creature inside her belly. Her mother had once told her that if the moon was full on the night of conception it would be a boy and Asami remembered the full moon looming outside the window. She had settled on a name; Auron. It had been her father's name and she found it to be an honorable name, a noble name. Asami felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Eishi standing behind her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. Asami smiled wearily. "I'm fine, Eishi. I'm fine. I just want some water."

Eishi patted her shoulder, kissed her cheek, and went to fetch her water. He returned and sat next to her. "Here you go."

Asami took the glass and drank her water quickly. "I have this feeling that your family doesn't like me."

Eishi ran his fingers through her hair. He had a habit of doing that. "Since when did you care?"

Asami smiled sheepishly. "Well, your sisters seem rather hostile. Maybe it's just me."

"It is, my dear. It is. I think they adore you. You're a summoner."

Asami gave him a lop-sided look. "Have you forgotten? I never finished my pilgrimage."

"Because you met me," Eishi said softly. He kissed Asami on her nose and hugged her tightly. "I'm glad you didn't. You probably would have obtained the Final Aeon."

"But I was chosen by the temple and by my family. They wanted me to be the first to defeat Sin. Instead I quit in the Calm Lands and got married." There was a hint of regret in her voice and Eishi had to look at her carefully.

He said in a whisper, "Do you regret marrying me, Asami?"

She shook her head. "Of course not, silly. I love you too much to regret my decision. It's just that.well.it disappointed my family."

"But they forgave you anyhow. That can't be so bad, Asami."

Asami sighed. It was hard to say that she didn't want to be married so soon, but she knew she couldn't. It would hurt him too much.

The next day the house was almost empty except for Eishi, Asami and Eishi's parents. Asami sat in the sun room reading one of Omi's books on the Al Bhed. She found them fascinating, especially seeing that a lot of them were close friends of her father. Eishi entered the room to see her there and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You should be in bed."

"I'm allowed some time from that wretched bed, Eishi," said Asami sharply.

Eishi smiled. "I know. So, how are you today? You didn't sleep good last night."

"Dreams.I keep having these weird dreams, but I'm fine now." Asami pushed a strand of raven hair behind her ear and sighed. "I don't know, but I have a feeling that I'm having more than one child, Eishi."

"The doctor said it was only one."

"Doctors can be wrong. I know my body, Eishi. I know it too well."

"You are a true wonder, my dove."

Asami blushed and glanced up at her husband. In one quick movement she was out of her chair and in his arms, kissing him passionately. Eishi was nearly knocked off balance by his wife's ferocity. He held her in his arms and looked down at her when the fury had passed. In a hoarse voice he asked, "May I ask.what was that?"

"I love you, Eishi. I really do."

That evening came quietly, descending as it always does on St. Ilion shrouded in cool breezes and the scent of the ocean. Eishi admired the stars from the garden steps. He remembered seeing those same stars on his missions back when he was a warrior monk. Those days were gone and it would be hard to tell his father that he could never go back to the Order. It wasn't his fault though. The daughter of Father Barbino wanted to marry him, but he refused graciously because he was in love with Asami. Commanded more by his daughter than his heart, Father Barbino excommunicated Eishi and told him to never return to Bevelle. Eishi was glad to be free of the hypocrisy that was Yevon, but he couldn't show that to his father. He didn't dare tell his father the truth. He would rather have him think that he gave up the Order to be with Asami (which in truth he had) then for him to know that he had been excommunicated.

As he thought of the time he spent in Bevelle he remembered one of his dear friends, Ebizo Yoshitomi. Ebizo was the father of three sons and all of them would be warrior monks. Eishi wondered what he was doing now and if he enjoyed being named Captain of the Guard. "I hope you like it, Ebizo. It isn't going to be easy. Not when you have those masters breathing down your neck," he thought.

Eishi's thoughts were broken when he heard his name being shouted. It was his mother. Emi ran outside and tugged at his arm. "Eishi, it's time. Asami is having the baby!"

"OH!" Eishi exclaimed.

"I need you to fetch the midwife. She's supposed to help me with this." Emi hurried back in without a backwards glance.

Eishi ran into town to find the midwife. It wasn't hard finding her it was just hard to get her to come out of her home. "I'm busy!" she shouted out her window.

"But, Mia-sama, Asami is having the baby! My mother needs you! You said you'd help!" "Okay! Okay! I'm coming."

After Eishi got the midwife there he was forced to wait with his father in the study. Omi poured two cups of sake and pushed one over to Eishi. Eishi didn't touch it, he was too busy worrying about Asami. "Is she going to be fine?" he asked worriedly.

"She'll be just fine, Eishi. She's strong."

"It's just that, this is our first child and."

"I know. Believe me, I know."

The hours dragged on. Eishi had fallen asleep in one of the chairs. Omi sat smoking his pipe and working on a scroll. When Emi came in it was almost morning. "It's finally done," she said She sat down across from Omi.

He took her hand and rubbed the knuckles gently. "How is she?"

"Sleeping like a log. I've never seen anyone sleep like that. The babies are asleep too."

"Babies? It thought she was only having one."

"Apparently the doctor was wrong, as he normally is. I mean this is the man that said that Ami would have triplets, but she had only one child. I don't trust that man anyhow. But yes, Asami has twins."

"Has she named them yet?"

"Yes, Talitha and Auron are their names. They're very darling. You should see them. Eishi should see them, but he's fast asleep."

"Let him sleep," said Omi as he stood up. "I'm going to check on her."

Just then Eishi sat up. "Mother, has she.has she..!"

Emi nodded and said to Eishi, "You have two lovely children. If you're going to go see them, be quiet."

Eishi nodded as he left the room.

The Birthing Room was set off from the other rooms and was near the garden entrance. Eishi pulled the door back and went inside. The room was lit with a soft yellow light and it smelt of jasmine and plums. Eishi saw Asami lying on the tatami in the middle of the room. She was dressed in a clean shift and she had been bathed. He knelt before her and kissed her temple. Slowly she awoke and opened her eyes. "Morning, darling," said Eishi as he kissed her again. "I see you are well."

Asami smiled. "They are so beautiful, Eishi. They're in the baskets over there." She pointed to two wicker baskets in the corner. Eishi walked over to them and peeked in at his children. A boy and a girl, both with black hair and slightly golden skin; they were his new pride and joys.

Eishi picked them both up and kissed the tops of their heads. "My children," he whispered.

Asami propped herself up on her elbows and watched as her husband admired his children. It was a sight that inspired tears in her eyes. She knew that she could never regret her life with Eishi and their children. Finally a new horizon had opened for her and she welcomed it.