Here's chapter two of this new fic, a bit longer than the last chapter, but not too bad. I suppose this is where everything really gets started. I recently thought up a climax and ending to this story, which is a relief since now I have a direction. I'll have to set up the underlying plotline that will become apparent later. This is more than just a story about reunited Tidus and Yuna; there's a lot of good subplots which I will have fun exploring, and hopefully you will as well.
There's a lot of Al Bhed in this chapter, and translations are at the bottom. Hope you enjoy. Thank you to the people who reviewed the last chapter, I appreciate it very much. And thanks so much for reading.
* * *
Chapter 2
Decision
"All right, you stupid pile of sticks, you're going to light. And you're going to light now. You listening to me? I'm not talking to a brick wall here. Light already! Please?"
If anyone was around to hear Tidus muttering to his fire pit as he rubbed two stones over it, they wisely kept their opinions to themselves. Not that there would be anyone hanging around here, Tidus reflected, glancing up momentarily at his surroundings. He was in the heart of Zanarkand -or what was left of it, anyway- outside the dome where Yunalesca had once resided, surrounded by dirt and wreckage and tumble-down ruins. And the last few pyreflies, the remnants of the Fayth.
The friction of the stones was finally creating small sparks, and suddenly a puff of smoke rose from the kindling. Tidus held his breath.
"You're doing that wrong," a voice commented over his shoulder, and the tiny flame went out.
Tidus threw down the stones in frustration and whirled around. "I almost had it, you big-" He stopped and stared, mouth agape.
A large, strong-looking man crouched beside him, short, chestnut-brown hair streaked with gray, face scarred, eyes concealed behind a pair of shaded glasses. He wore a long red jacket, full-sleeved and high collared. Tidus gulped.
"A-Auron?"
"In the flesh," the man said dryly.
"Strange," Tidus remarked thoughtfully. "I thought you were dead."
Auron rolled his eyes. "I was dead. I'm not anymore."
"Oh, really? So if you're alive, is this your dream or mine?" Tidus asked brightly.
Auron sighed, grabbed his arm, and twisted it hard.
"Ow!" Tidus yanked his arm back and glared at Auron. "Geez, what was that for?"
"Did it hurt?" Auron asked calmly.
"Yeah it did! A lot!"
"Then you're not dreaming." Auron easily pushed Tidus out of the way so that he could poke at the fire pit, examining and rearranging. "See, you have this all wrong. Even if you managed to get a fire burning, it would consume itself in ten seconds." He was stacking the twigs in a square pattern, placing the smaller kindling in the middle. "I'll work on this. Why don't you go see where my friend disappeared to?"
"What friend?"
Auron glanced up at him. His mouth was hidden beneath the collar of his jacket, but from the way the corners of his eyes crinkled, Tidus guessed he was smiling. "You'll see."
A sudden premonition made Tidus leap to his feet. "Is it Yuna?!"
"Sorry, no. You won't like this person nearly as much."
Wonderful, Tidus grumbled silently, stomping off to look for the mystery friend. He edged slowly around the enormous dome, following its curving wall until Auron and the firepit were out of his sight.
Zanarkand, he thought gloomily, kicking at a pile of wreckage. Of all the places in Spira, I ended up here. Guess it's kind of ironic. The worst part was that Yuna probably wouldn't be anywhere near here, at the very edge of the world. He had a long way to go to find her, and who knew if he would even find her at all? That thought made his heart wrench.
I will find her. I have to.
A sudden, familiar prickling on the back of his neck made Tidus glance up quickly. It was the same feeling he tended to experience when Sin was near- but that couldn't be right. They had killed Sin and the entity that had created it in the first place, banishing it from Spira forever. Unless -the back of his neck continued to prickle- he had never sensed Sin at all.
Unless it had been the other...
"Auron! Hey, Auron! Where the hell did ya go, you big jackass?"
That deep, gravelly voice with its obnoxious dialect made him freeze in place. Slowly, slowly he turned to his right, where a figure he knew all too well was picking its way through the rubble.
"Dad?" Tidus said, amazed.
The figure glanced up, meeting his gaze, and immediately halted in his steps. He was a giant of a man, even taller than Tidus remembered, with broad shoulders and strong, well-muscled limbs. His rough skin was darkly tanned, bare chest tattooed with the sign of the Zanarkand Abes in gold. His dark, scraggly hair hung in tangles past his chin. Clear, sharp eyes were set below heavy brows, as blue as a robin's egg- the only feature he shared with his son.
For a long time the two stared at each other, unable to do anything else. Then finally Jecht spoke, uncertainly. "Hey."
"Hi."
There was a silence again. Then Jecht sighed, rubbing his head. "Knew it'd be like this," he muttered. "Hey, you know where there's water around?"
"Yeah. There's a fountain over there, or what's left of it." Tidus pointed in the right direction. "Don't you remember?"
"Remember?" Jecht echoed, blinking. "'Course not. I ain't been to Zanarkand in ten years."
"It's exactly like our city," Tidus said impatiently, stepping past him toward the fountain. "How can you not remember?"
"Hey, you forget things when yer Sin," Jecht said defensively. Tidus flinched at that, and made no reply.
They soon came upon the fountain, which in reality was a wreck of marble and stone with a small spring bubbling underneath. Jecht produced Auron's empty sake jug and filled it in the spring. Father and son walked back to Tidus's camp in silence.
Auron already had a good-sized fire going, feeding it driftwood he'd found on the shore. The salty flames twisted around the wood in spurts of orange, blue, and green. Auron tended it with a stick, glancing up as Tidus and Jecht appeared.
"Don't you look like a happy twosome," he commented. "No joyful reunion?"
"Gimme a break," Tidus muttered, dropping down before the fire with a glare at Auron. "You could've warned me."
"I told you I shouldn't 'a come," Jecht said bluntly, taking a seat opposite his son.
"Nonsense," Auron retorted. "Just look at you two. Reunited for the first time in over a decade without meaning to kill each other-"
"Don't count on it," Tidus muttered.
"Don't interrupt me," Auron growled, staring Tidus in the eye until the younger man looked away. "As I was saying," he continued calmly, "this is an opportunity the likes of which you two have never had, and probably never will again. That's why I made Jecht come back. The only reason I came back was to stop you two from murdering each other."
"Just out of curiosity, how did you come back?" Tidus demanded.
"The Fayth gave us new life, much as we did for you," Auron replied. "Braska could have returned, but he didn't want to cause Yuna any more heartache."
"Lucky bastard," said Jecht under his breath.
Auron glared at him. "You had better start acting more grateful for this opportunity. You two are going to learn to meet each other halfway, or I'll know why." He paused ominously for a moment, then sighed. "I am a bit tired of fathering you both," he said patiently.
Tidus protested, "No one told either of you to-"
"I beg your pardon?" Auron inquired, brows raised.
Tidus gulped. "Nothing."
Auron gazed at him a bit longer, then nodded. "Good." He reached over and plucked his clay jug out of Jecht's hands, took a swig and made a face. "We'll have to get something stronger than this," he remarked, passing the jug to Tidus.
"It's water, Auron," Jecht said irritably. "What, were you expectin' me t' find a bar out here?"
"Of course not." Auron gave Tidus a meaningful look as he tried to give the jug back. Tidus grimaced at him and silently offered Jecht the water, who took it very carefully from his son's hands.
"So now what?" Jecht demanded after he'd taken a drink.
"We find Yuna," Tidus said immediately.
Auron nodded. "I had a feeling you'd say that. The problem is, where to look? Yuna could be anywhere."
"Aw, man," Jecht groaned. "Don't tell me we gotta walk all over Spira lookin' fer this chick."
Tidus glared at him. "No one asked you to come," he said acidly.
Jecht stared at him, cheeks dark crimson. "Hey, gimme some credit. At least I'm here!"
"Nobody asked you to be here, either!" Tidus snapped.
"Stop it, both of you," Auron intervened sharply.
Tidus glared at him accusingly. "Why should I? You made him come. You know I hate him!"
He got up and stomped away, running his fingers restlessly through his hair. Auron and Jecht watched him go silently.
"I told you, I shouldn't be here," Jecht muttered once Tidus was out of earshot. "He does hate me. He means it."
"Jecht, do you want him to hate you?" Auron murmured.
Jecht blinked at him, eyes wide. "'Course not!"
"Then be patient. No one said this would be easy. But you must believe there is hope for you two."
Jecht stared after his son. "You really think so?"
Auron smiled. "I know so. I've been around you two long enough to tell."
* * *
"So you see, Lady Yuna, despite what you may have...err...discovered, Yevon's religion is still alive, and quite necessary. Sin may be gone for good, as some believe, or it may merely be a matter of time until it somehow reappears. Even if it doesn't, there is still the need for order in Spira, order to counteract the chaos of growth and..."
Yuna tuned out the rest, bored nearly to tears by this latest priest sent from Bevelle to gain Yuna's patronism. They were in a meeting room in the hotel, Yuna seated in a comfy chair as the priest paced back and forth before her. Lulu sat to her right, back perfectly straight, legs crossed, eyes attentive and grave as she politely watched the priest. Only a slight joggling of her foot indicated her boredom. Wakka, standing protectively at Yuna's back, shifting restlessly as if longing to be in the stadium practicing Blitzball instead of in this stuffy conference room. On Yuna's left, Rikku lounged in a chair with her legs dangling over the armrest, a scowl furrowing her brow, eyes defiant. The Al Bhed loved few Bevelle priests, especially those who wanted to rope Yuna into their new religion.
Yuna sighed and shifted in her seat, the man's babble running together like one continuous whine. How many times had she heard this speech advocating Yevon's new religion? Sometimes she wished she weren't so polite. Then she might simply slam her door in the face of the priests, instead of dutifully listening to the same tune over and over.
I shouldn't be here, Yuna thought passionately. I should be somewhere else...anywhere else...
What she wouldn't admit, what she couldn't admit, was that she knew exactly what she wanted to be doing at this very moment. She wanted to be searching for Tidus, combing the world over for him. The more she thought of him, the more she believed that he might just be somewhere in Spira.
I could be looking for him right now, but instead I'm stuck here.
"I swear I'll find you." That was what he'd told her in her vision, or hallucination, or whatever it was. When? Yuna thought longingly. Will you walk through that door right now? Will you take me away from here, Tidus? Will you?
"-and the maesters, Yevon only knows what happened to them." The priest's grating, nasal voice had broken through her thoughts. "Likely they disappeared with the Cycle of Death. But there is Yevon, always Yevon, always the order of Yevon, to counteract the chaos brought upon us by the Al Bhed-"
Rikku leapt suddenly to her feet, eyes blazing. "Ruf tyna oui!" she snarled in her native tongue. "Vilg oui, bneacd! Ycc! Eteud! Vemdro bneacd!"
Yuna, Wakka, and Lulu all stared at Rikku, mouths open. All three knew enough Al Bhed to know that Rikku was yelling the worst curses and insults she could think of at the hapless priest, but none of them knew why. Certainly the priest was irritating, not to mention offensive to the Al Bhed, but Rikku never lost her temper like this.
"Wakka," Lulu murmured under Rikku's yells.
Wakka nodded and went to Rikku, who was advancing on the frightened priest, cursing in Al Bhed. Grabbing her by the arms, he began to drag her from the room.
"Cad ku uv sa, Wakka!" Rikku snapped at him. She bared her teeth at the priest. "Ku pyld du Bevelle! Nih du Yevon, vemdro bneacd! Tuhd ajan cruf ouin vyla du Yunie ykyeh!" Kicking and spitting, Rikku was dragged from the room in Wakka's hold.
When she had gone, Yuna stood and bowed to the priest. "Thank you for your offer, Yevon priest, but I'm afraid I must end our meeting," she said in a regretful tone, lips quivering. "My friend appears to be suffering a bout of insanity."
"Yes, we must be off," Lulu added quickly, rising to her feet. "Good day to you."
"Uh," the priest said as the women left, shutting the door in his face.
They found Wakka and Rikku in the conference room next door. Rikku slumped sullenly in a chair as Wakka stood over her, arms crossed, keeping a sharp eye fixed on her. He glanced up and waved as Yuna and Lulu entered.
"I tink dis one has calmed down," he said, indicating Rikku.
"Just let me at that priest and I'll show you how calm I am!" Rikku exploded. "E cruimt gemm dryd zing!" She was off and running in Al Bhed again. Wakka sighed and clapped a hand over her mouth, silencing her.
Yuna waited until Rikku ran dry, then went and knelt so that she was eye-level with that Al Bhed. "What's wrong?"
Rikku's reply was muffled by Wakka's hand. He took his hand away and she repeated herself. "It isn't me."
"It isn't you?" Yuna echoed.
Rikku glanced down as though ashamed of herself. "I didn't mean to yell," she mumbled. "But that jerk got me so mad, bothering you when you have other thing on your mind. Throw in the insult to the Al Bhed…" Rikku paused, then added sheepishly, "I guess I just lost my temper."
"No kiddin'," Wakka said dryly.
"Everyone loses their temper," Yuna assured her. She hesitated. "If you want to talk about anything-"
"Tuhd keja sa dryd, Yunie!" Rikku snapped. The three stared at her in surprise. She took a breath, then went on in a somewhat calmer tone. "You're the one keeping secrets, not me. You've been thinking about Tidus, haven't you? It's not like I don't have eyes and ears."
"I never said you didn't," Yuna mumbled, reddening.
"Yeah, well, the point is that you're obviously upset, and we all want to help. But we can't do that if you won't less us know what's going on inside your head."
"Are you all in on this?" Yuna said, amazed, gazing about at her friends.
Lulu nodded. "We've been talking. Sharing what we know."
"Which is just dat you been tinking and dreaming 'bout him," Wakka said bluntly. "We dunno what else is goin' tru your mind."
Rikku stood facing her, hands on hips. "So the question is, what do you want to do?"
Yuna hesitated, licking dry lips. "I want to find him."
From the way her friends all blinked at her, Yuna guessed they weren't expecting that answer.
"But he's gone," Lulu said softly.
"I have reason to believe he's come back," Yuna replied steadily. "The dreams I've been having-"
"Wait a minute," Wakka interrupted. "You're basin' dis on dreams? Dat seems a little sketchy, ya?"
"I know it does, Wakka," Yuna said patiently. "But I just feel it in my heart. I feel him."
"Do you know where he is?" Lulu inquired.
Yuna shook her head. "I have no idea, unfortunately."
"Den he could be anywhere in Spira," Wakka pointed out. "You really gonna look all over de continent? Go to Zanarkand and back again?"
"Why shouldn't she?" Rikku demanded suddenly, unexpectedly. She glared at them, hands on hips. "You really think it would be better of her to stay here and deal with those whining, idiotic priests?" She spat the word from her mouth as though it had a bitter taste. "Just do what everyone else wants, and ignore her own desires?" Rikku went to stand at Yuna's side, slipping her hand into Yuna's and smiling at her. "I say go, Yunie, and I'll come with you."
Yuna smiled back, gripping her friend's hand tightly in gratitude.
"It's a long way," Lulu began.
"No problem!" Rikku said brightly. "We'll go Home and borrow the airship. Cid won't mind."
"It's still quite a trek from Luca to the Sanubia Sands," Lulu pointed out.
"We've been on longer treks," Rikku said, and laughed.
"Too right," Lulu said dryly. "This is like a pilgrimage in itself, and it won't be-"
"Why do you have so many objections?" Rikku demanded, glaring at her. "Do you even want your friend to be happy?"
Lulu's eyes flashed. "Of course I do," she snapped. "What I don't want is to see her chasing a false hope!"
There was a silence. Then Yuna spoke.
"If it's a false hope, then it's a false hope," she said simply. "I won't know unless I follow my heart."
Lulu nodded. "Well put."
"Agreed." Rikku smiled and poked Wakka with her elbow. "Someone's being awfully quiet."
"I can't go," Wakka mumbled, staring at the floor.
"What?! Why not?!" Rikku demanded.
Wakka looked up and met Yuna's eyes, pleading. "It's de Blitztball, ya? I can't just quit in de middle o' de season, even for sometin' dis important."
Yuna laid a hand on his arm. "I understand."
"You mean you're not coming?" Rikku said unhappily.
"Sorry," Wakka said gently, ruffling her hair. "I'll catch up wit you 'soon as de season's over." He paused. "Or 'soon as I lose."
"Guess we won't have long to wait then, dnia?" Rikku kidded, batting her eyelashes at him.
Wakka punched her shoulder lightly, grinning.
Yuna smiled at her friends' antics. "So when should we be off?"
"As soon as possible," Lulu replied immediately. When they all looked at her, she smiled wryly. "I am anxious to be away from the priests."
* * *
The next morning, Yuna woke feeling nervous and restless, from a dream in which she had searched hopelessly for something she could never find. Nice way to start the morning, she thought, trying to ignore her fear that the dream might have some truth to it.
Undaunted, she packed for the journey, filling a small bag with an extra outfit and some food. Lulu and Rikku were similarly prepared; they'd all learned to travel light on Yuna's pilgrimage. Rikku sported a wicked claw on her arm, while Lulu carried one of her numerous dolls, her magic enhancers. Though the fiends were gone, there was no telling who or what they could meet on the road.
Yuna had no weapon. Her aeons had gone away with the Fayth, and a summoning staff was no longer needed. She missed the security of eight mighty aeons at her back, but they had earned their rest. She was glad to let them sleep.
Wakka saw them off at the entrance to the Mi'ihen Highroad. They would follow the Highroad, and many other roads, north to the desert where the new Al Bhed Home was located.
"Bye, Wakka," Rikku said unhappily, hugging him around the ribs. "Hurry it up with the Blitzball, will you?"
Wakka grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "What if I make it to de championship?"
"It'd be a bad year to do it," Rikku said frankly. "Pa cyva yht rybbo, yht lusa rusa du ouin vneahtc."
"Huh?"
"It means 'be safe and happy, and come home to your friends,'" Rikku replied promptly. "It's an Al Bhed blessing."
Wakka shook his head. "I dunno how you Al Bhed don't break teeth on dat language."
Rikku grinned at him, unoffended. "Our teeth are stronger than yours."
Lulu gave Wakka a hug and an emotionless goodbye, as was her way. Yuna stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on his stubbly cheek.
"Have fun playing Blitzball, Wakka. I'm sorry I'm not staying for the rest of the season," Yuna said regretfully.
"Don't worry 'bout it," Wakka said gruffly. He hugged her so tightly that she squeaked and kissed the top of her head. "You take care of yourself, ya? I'll catch up wit you 'soon as I can."
Yuna had an idea. "Why don't you wait for us here? When we get to Home we'll fly the airship back to Luca and pick you out. Maybe we'll even catch some Blitzball." She smiled. "Then we can all search together."
"Hey, dat's a good plan!" Wakka exclaimed. "Okay, I'll wait for you. Don't take too long."
"We won't," Yuna said, smiling.
Wakka's voice lowered suddenly. "Listen, uh...if you see him before you come back for me..."
Yuna knew who he was talking about. "Yes?"
"Just...just tell him Wakka says hey, ya?" Wakka hesitated for a moment. "Tell him he was missed."
"I will," Yuna promised.
"Hey, and tell him I want him on my Blitzball team!" Wakka grinned. "Wit him we'll win every championship!"
Yuna laughed. "I'll tell him. I'll make sure he practices!"
Yuna, Rikku, and Lulu soon took to the road, Rikku glancing back every now and then at Wakka, who watched them go from the gate of the Highroad. "It feels like a pilgrimage," Rikku commented softly, "and it doesn't. We're not all together."
"We will be," Yuna assured her. "Soon."
"Yo, Yuna!" Wakka suddenly yelled down the road. "Rikku, Lulu!"
The women halted and glanced back at him.
Wakka grinned broadly and thumped a fist over his heart. "I'll be wit you, ya?"
Yuna smiled and waved. "I know you will, Wakka!"
Rikku smiled happily and skipped off down the road.
* * *
Translations
Ruf tyna oui? - How dare you
Vilg oui, bneacd! - Fuck you, priest
Ycc - Ass
Eteud - Idiot
Vemdro bneacd - Filthy priest
Cad ku uv sa - Let go of me
Ku pyld du Bevelle - Go back to Bevelle
Nih du Yevon, vemdro bneacd - Run to Yevon, filthy priest
Tuhd ajan cruf ouin vyla du Yunie ykyeh - Don't ever show your face to Yunie again
E cruimt gemm dryd zing - I should kill that jerk
Tuhd keja sa dryd - Don't give me that
Dnia - true
Pa cyva yht rybbo, yht lusa rusa du ouin vneahtc - Be safe and happy, and come home to your friends