A note from the Hime no Argh herself-
HO HO HO! Merry Belated Christmas, and Happy Very Belated Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza too, though I confess I don't know whether that's belated or not. o-o;; Gomen.
Did everyone have a nice holiday? Did you get lots of presents? I'm typing this note on one of my presents- a new computer! Sorry, I feel this weird urge to tell everyone about it. ^^;; Aside from that I got a pretty necklace, a nice sweater, a Linkin Park CD, and a whole lotta money, which I mostly spent on anime. Now I have loads of anime to watch and hardly enough time to do it.
I've been writing up a storm and am now working on the seventh chapter. Please don't expect a quick post though because Chapter 6 might could possibly need some editing. Anyway, my story seems to be traveling in a good, solid direction, so we'll see how things go.
Thanks for reading!
***
Chapter 5
Moonlight Revelation
After Auron had gotten Jecht in a headlock and made him plead for mercy, the four started off again. Kimahri led the way, keeping a wary hand wrapped tightly around his spear.
"Fiends leave mountain years ago," he said. "Now only big predators. They not bother Kimahri, but maybe try to eat puny humans."
"Thanks," Tidus said dryly. He didn't bother sharing how odd it felt to be wandering around this mountain without a weapon in hand. In the old days they'd have had to fend off at least twenty fiends by now, yet they'd not seen a single one since leaving Zanarkand.
I guess it really is a different Spira, Tidus thought, almost unnerved by how peaceful the mountain seemed.
It made him wonder what Yuna was doing. Weird as it was, he couldn't imagine her doing anything besides pilgrimaging and summoning. Don't be dumb, he scolded himself mentally. She had a life in Besaid before the pilgrimage, didn't she? Of course, he had no idea what she'd done for a living before becoming a summoner, if anything.
I have no idea what her life could be like now. Sudden panic struck his heart. "Auron!" he cried, turning back to face the man, walking behind with Jecht.
Auron raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"What if Yuna..." Tidus hesitated, biting his lip. "I mean, what if she..."
"Geez, kid, spit it out," Jecht said impatiently.
"Oh, shut up," Tidus snapped back.
Jecht elbowed Auron. "He's got no problem sayin' that, see?"
"What is it?" Auron asked Tidus, ignoring Jecht.
"Well, I mean, it's been five years right? What if she..." Tidus clenched his fists. "What if she got married?!"
Kimahri abruptly let out a loud, throaty laugh, surprising them. "Yuna marry? Someone not Tidus? Kimahri want to see that day!"
"Hey! I thought you were on my side!"
Auron sighed. "I think what Kimahri is saying is that Yuna would never marry anyone who isn't you."
"Oh." Tidus blinked, still troubled. "You really think so?"
"Well, I can't say for sure, but-"
"I don't think so," Jecht interrupted, folding his arms over his chest.
Tidus, Auron, and Kimahri all stared at him. "You don't?" Tidus demanded. "Why not?"
His father waved a hand. "Aw, Yuna's a good kid. But she's a woman too. They're all the same. Like one man, move on t' the next-"
"You gotta be kidding!" Tidus cried angrily.
Jecht blinked at him. "I'm tellin' ya, like it or not, it's the truth. You know how many women pretended t'love me n' dumped me the next day? Till I learned better, that is." He shrugged. "Better to use than be used, y'know."
Tidus stared at him, jaw open. "I cannot believe what a bastard you are!"
Jecht's face darkened. "Hey, it's what experience taught me-"
"And what about Mom?!" Tidus demanded, furious. "She loved you forever! And you left her! She died because you left her!"
"She didn't even exist," Jecht said flatly.
There was a long silence. Tidus, clenching and unclenching his fists, flinched when Kimahri put a hand on his shoulder.
"If she didn't exist," Tidus said, very quietly, "then neither do I. In which case, why are you here?"
He turned and walked away. Kimahri and Auron gave Jecht a silent look, then went after Tidus.
Jecht sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Shit," he muttered. Alone, he followed.
* * *
Night fell, and the mountain air grew steadily colder. Kimahri was snug in his Ronso fur, but kept up a quick pace so that the rest of them wouldn't get too cold. Jecht, still wearing Auron's jacket, seemed fine, but Tidus's teeth chattered and he thought he even saw Auron give an involuntary shiver. He didn't, however, ask for his jacket back. For some reason this annoyed Tidus immensely.
As the sky grew darker the clouds suddenly seemed to clear and all the stars lit up. A full moon came out, illuminating the snow with its brilliant silver glow. It was the first time Tidus had seen Mount Gagazet during a clear night, and it was beautiful.
Eventually Kimahri found a cave in the cliff wall and they built a fire. Tidus sat near the entrance of the cave, watching the stars in the night sky. He had always been amazed at how many stars could be seen in Spira, where there were few lights to dim their glow.
Drifting on the wind came a strange sound, a rugged, warbling cry that sounded almost like music. Tidus leapt to his feet as other voices joined in, singing so eerily that the hair on the back of his neck rose.
"What is that?" he whispered.
"Pack song," Kimahri said, startling him. The Ronso had crept up silently behind him. "Snow wolves sing together."
"It's pretty," Tidus said quietly. "And kinda creepy too."
Footsteps sounded behind them, and Kimahri and Tidus turned. Jecht stood there, shifting his weight from foot to foot uncertainly. Kimahri nodded to him, then walked back inside the cave, joining Auron by the fire.
"What?" Tidus said coldly when he was out of earshot.
"I, uh..." Jecht sighed. "Look, I gotta talk t'ya, alright? It's important."
"I've got nothing to say to you," Tidus retorted, turning away from him.
"Then at least hear me out," his father implored. "You don't understand. I-"
"Look, I don't want to hear it!" Tidus snapped, whirling to face him. "You had no right! You- you just come here and expect everything to be okay- well it's not! And then you insult Mom like that-"
"You don't understand," Jecht repeated savagely. "You won't even listen! That ain't fair!"
"Ask me if I give a damn!" Tidus turned and stomped away, kicking angrily at the snow. Briefly he turned back. "I hate you, Jecht!" He darted away down the mountain path and out of sight.
For a moment or two, Jecht stood still, silent. Then he turned and punched the stone wall of the cave as hard as he could. Pain crashed through his knuckles and a savage curse tore from his chest.
A firm hand on his shoulder was Auron. "Go after him."
"Why?" Jecht mumbled, cradling his injured hand. "What's the point?"
Auron gripped his shoulder hard. "Because this is your chance to begin something," he said urgently. "Take it!"
Jecht turned to face him, silent. For a few moments they stared at each other, then Auron gripped the side of Jecht's head with his free hand and pulled him close until their foreheads touched.
"Thick-skull," Auron muttered.
Jecht smiled. "Thanks." He pushed Auron away, turned, and went after his son.
* * *
Moodily Tidus wandered along the mountain path. He was lucky that the moon shone so brightly tonight- several times its pale glow warned him of the dangers of ice and loose stones just in time. The last thing he wanted was to slip and go tumbling off the side of a cliff before he could find Yuna.
Yuna, he thought longingly, sitting on a rock to rest his weary legs. Up here the air was thin and hard to breathe, making any exercise difficult. Tidus gulped in oxygen, trying to clear his mind. His head swam momentarily, and in a reverie he saw Yuna. She stood before him in the snow, half-transparent, laughing though he couldn't hear the sound.
A snarl sounded suddenly in his ears and his reverie was broken. Tidus jumped to his feet and looked back up the path. A snow wolf stood blocking his way, lips pulled back over razor-sharp teeth.
"Heh," Tidus said nervously, backing away from the snarling wolf. "Down doggy. Nice doggy."
The wolf took another step toward him, saliva dripping from its mouth. It looked frighteningly hungry.
I'm in trouble, Tidus thought, sweating. He was out here alone, weaponless, and no one knew where he'd gone. Why did I have to go running off?!
The wolf's haunches rippled and Tidus grimly faced it, ready to do battle with his bare hands, if that was necessary. But before he or the animal could attack a white missel hurtled through the air and hit the wolf in the side.
The wolf yipped in surprise, shaking snow from its fur as both it and Tidus stared up the mountain trail. Jecht stood behind the wolf, tossing another snowball from hand to hand.
"Dad?" Tidus said disbelievingly.
Jecht glared at the wolf. "Who the hell d'ya think you are, attackin' my son? Get outta here, you stinkin' fleabag!" He hurled the snowball at the wolf, hitting it squarely in the face.
"Uh, Dad?" Tidus said nervously. "Maybe you shouldn't-"
The wolf snarled loudly, shaking its head, and abruptly launched itself at Jecht. Teeth tore into flesh, but Jecht dug his fingers into the animal's ribs, and in a mighty burst of strength lifted it over his shoulder and sent it flying down the mountain.
"Ha!" Jecht said, making an obscene gesture at the wolf's falling body. Then he seemed to remember the three thick, bloody scratches on his shoulder and pressed a hand to them, wincing. "Damn, that smarts."
Tidus approached him hesitantly, then scooped up a handful of snow and pressed it hard against the wound. "Ow!" Jecht hollered. Then he quieted.
"Dummy," Tidus muttered. "Why'd you have to follow me?"
"Hey, show yer ol' man some gratitude," Jecht protested, cringing. He smiled weakly. "I took a nasty cut fer you."
"I noticed," his son said dryly as the snow began to melt. Jecht scooped up more and pressed it against the wound. "See? You'll be fine."
"Hey, don't be goin' anywhere," Jecht snapped as Tidus edged away from him. "I saved yer life so you'd better jest hear me out, got it?"
Tidus sighed impatiently. "Fine. Talk then."
"Fine. Have a seat," Jecht ordered, pointing to a group of boulders beside them. Tidus reluctantly sat and watched as his father paced back and forth before him. "Now look." Jecht hesitated as if searching for the right words. "Auron, see, he doesn't get us. He thinks we should be best friends or somethin', which is a load o' crap if you ask me. I mean, we both know that's never gonna happen."
"Yeah?" Tidus said densely, wondering where this was going.
"Now, I dunno 'bout you, but I know what my problem is. My problem is-" Jecht hesitated again, rubbing the back of his head. Tidus was shocked to see a dull blush beneath his dark tan. Finally Jecht mumbled, "I'm jealous a' you."
Tidus's jaw dropped. "J-jealous? How could you possibly be jealous of me?"
"Ain't it obvious?" Jecht said bluntly. When Tidus only stared at him, he sighed. "You dunno how lucky you are, t' have a girl like Yuna. I knew 'er, a long time ago. You know that. She's a great girl. That's what I'm jealous of."
Tidus stared at him, silent.
"See, I never had that," Jecht went on recklessly. "Or maybe I did, with yer mom, only I was too stupid to know it. Yer mom was a good woman, but I didn't 'ppreciate her. Then I left her. And you think I never get guilty 'bout that?!" he hollered, suddenly angry. "'Course I do! I get so guilty sometimes I can't stand it! Then I think, Zanarkand wasn't real, she wasn't real, whaddo I have t'be guilty 'bout? Nothin'. Only that's bull shit, an' that's what I reminded of every time I look at you."
He sighed. "You dunno how lucky you are to have Yuna. Luckier'n yer mom was to have me. When you find her, don't you ever let her go, you hear me? Don't let her go, and don't let her leave you. You'll regret it fer the rest of her life."
"I don't plan to," Tidus said quietly.
For a moment they looked at each other, really looked, for the first time since they'd been reunited. Then Jecht smiled. "Good. Now c'mon, we'd better get back a'fore Auron thinks we killed each other."
Tidus nodded, rising, and together father and son headed back to the camp.
* * *
Yuna, Lulu, and Rikku were unusually silent a they walked the forest path leading away from the north bank of the Moonflow, letting the sounds of birds and animals make up for the absence of their usual chatter. When they crested a tall hill Rikku pointed silently to their right, where a gap in the trees revealed the twisted rock formation under which Guadosalam lay.
"There it is," Lulu said quietly. "The home of dead souls."
Yuna gazed at it for a moment in silence, then nodded, her resolve firm. "Yes. This is where I'll finally get some answers." She looked to the others. "Ready? Let's go."
* * *
To be continued.