A note from the Hime no Argh herself–
Much thanks for the reviews I've gotten for the last chapter. I'm trying to make the wait a bit shorter in between chapters, so here's the next one for you. This is a pretty long chapter, so I hope you enjoy.
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Chapter 15
Around and Around
Cid assigned a boat big enough to carry a land-roving vehicle, and a crew to man the boat. Rikku had to oversee the preparations that went into their leaving as Cid began heaping on more food and supplies than they could carry. "Dad!" she finally yelled, exasperated. "We're not going on a pilgrimage!"
"Oops," Cid said sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that, kids..." Yuna, Lulu, Rikku, and Wakka got to work helping him unload the excess supplies.
Brother ignored them all, playing with a rifle nearby. Yuna had been surprised to learn that the Al Bhed used the same machina weapons as the priests, but as Cid said, "If it works, it works." She watched curiously out of the corner of her eye as Brother gave the rifle a thorough inspection, his hands steady and practiced, then raised it to his shoulder to shoot the head off a target dummy.
"Tink I'll stay on his good side," Wakka commented, also watching. "Just in case."
Soon Cid beckoned Yuna over and gave her a pair of twin machina weapons that looked like rifles, only smaller with much shorter barrels, an easy fit for her small hands. "They're handguns," Cid explained when she looked at him quizzically. "T'defend yerself with. Don't wanna risk getting in trouble, do we now?"
"But I don't even know how to use them," Yuna pointed out, gingerly taking one of the guns and examining it very carefully, keeping her fingers far from the trigger.
"Brother'll show you," Cid said with a shrug.
"I'll show her," growled a new voice. Rikku had appeared at Yuna's shoulder, grabbing the extra gun from Cid's hand.
"Now, Rikku," Cid protested, "don't be playing around with–"
He fell silent as Rikku turned to Brother's target, took aim, and fired. Yuna jumped at the bang. A neat, smoking hole appeared in the dummy's chest.
For a moment everyone stared at Rikku, then Cid whistled, scratching the back of his head. "Where'd you learn that?"
"Brother showed me," Rikku said with an ironic grin. She twirled the gun in a forefinger and thrust it into her belt.
"Crufuvv," Brother muttered. Rikku glared at him.
Seeing that Yuna still held her own handgun as if it were a hot brick, Cid rearranged her grip on it so that her fingers were wrapped around the handle. "You crook your finger around the trigger, see? There's the safety." He pushed a lever and they heard a click. "That click means its ready to fire." He pushed the lever back. "Best to keep it on safety if you ain't planning to use it. Like all weapons, they're dangerous when not handled properly."
"Maybe I shouldn't carry them at all," Yuna said, cringing.
"You'll get used to it." Cid frowned at his daughter. "Rikku, give her the other gun, I didn't mean for you to keep it."
Obediently Rikku handed over the twin handgun, but Brother sighed in exasperation. Marching over to the women's side, he took the guns from Yuna's hand and opened their compartments to empty three bullets each.
"Ev cra lyhd ica dras bnubanmo, cra lyhd lynno dras muytat," he told Rikku, who glowered at him. "Cramm kad rancamv gemmet."
"Drydc fro es daylrehk cra!" Rikku protested, but Brother would have none of it. He handed the bullets to Rikku, obviously meaning that she should keep them, and gave the guns back to Yuna.
"Pa lynavim," he told her shortly and went back to his own affairs.
"What was he saying?" Yuna inquired of Rikku.
Rikku sighed in exasperation. "He says you can't carry the guns loaded until you know how to use them properly. Bossy jerk."
"That sounds good to me," Yuna said, relieved.
"Yeah, but what good will they do you in a sticky situation?"
"They won't do her any good in the first place if she doesn't know how to use them," Lulu interjected, joining them. "Brother's right, Rikku. It's not safe."
"I know that," Rikku said peevishly. "I just hate it when he's right."
"Hey, look on de bright side," came Wakka's cheerful voice, his hand descending heavily onto Rikku's shoulder. The Al Bhed yelped and Yuna and Lulu started; none of them had heard Wakka come up behind them. "At least Yuna's got a coupla strong guys to protect her, ya?"
Lulu eyed Wakka. "And we women couldn't do the same?" she said dryly.
A grin spread slowly over Wakka's face. "Well, I'm not saying you girls aren't good at what you do, but..." His grin broadened. "Sometimes you gotta leave de fighting to de big boys, ya?"
"Oh please, any one of us girls could take you any day," Rikku retorted. "Don't go getting any ideas in your head."
"You saying you could take me on right now?" Wakka taunted, still grinning infuriatingly. "I don't tink so."
"Oh, I'll show you, you big pig–" Lulu shook her head and Yuna giggled as they watched Rikku chase Wakka around the sand dunes.
"You've got to hand it to him for distracting her," Yuna pointed out, grinning.
"Mm." Lulu gave Yuna a wry smile. "Wakka is smarter than we give him credit for, isn't he?"
"Definitely."
Lulu's eyebrows rose. Rikku was now half-hanging off of Wakka's shoulders, attempting to drag him down, but the much larger man kept on his feet easily. "About some things, anyway," the woman added dryly.
Yuna glanced at her. "You still think...?"
"Oh yes. But then, people are always dense about love."
Yuna considered that. "But...isn't it possible that you're being a little presumptuous?"
Lulu shrugged. "It's possible, yes. Or maybe I'm just the only one who notices anything."
* * *
Unable to come up with any other plan, Tidus, Auron, Jecht, and Kimahri did something very daring and possibly very stupid–they stole a boat.
"I'm going to hell," Tidus said mournfully as the four labored to push the boat to the water. It was midnight on a beach east of Guadosalam, where they'd found an old machina boat near a fisherman's hut. "Stealing a boat from a fisherman. Probably an old man too."
"It was your idea," Auron hissed, his voice strained as they shoved the boat over the sand. "'Here's a boat, let's just take it, shall we?'"
"If you have a better idea, I'd love to hear it!" Tidus gasped. In place of the boat the men had left the best they had–Kimahri's beautiful spear, handcrafted at the peak of Mount Gagazet, doubled in value since the near-extinction of the Ronso clan. It might even cover the cost of the boat, or at least come close.
The stretching waves caught the boat and drew it a little closer to open sea, slipping on the wet sand. They pushed it into the water until the waves rose above their waists, then clambered onto the small deck. None of them knew exactly how to work it, but Kimahri was used to machina by now, and Tidus, Jecht, and Auron still carried memories of Zanarkand, where everything was mechanized. Between the four of them they managed to get the engine sputtering to life.
"Here goes nothing," Tidus said warily, inspecting the control panel. He pushed a lever forward and the boat shot off across the water like an arrow.
"ALRIGHT!" Jecht bellowed, the wind whipping his hair away from his face. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"
They darted out into open, moonlit sea, leaving behind no trace but Jecht's hearty laughs.
* * *
The three women, Wakka, and Brother spent one last night in Home's walls, where Yuna had to force herself to lie still and try to get some sleep. Only around two in the morning was she finally able to close her eyes and fall into a fitful, restless slumber. It seemed like just moments later when Lulu shook her shoulder to wake her. Yuna sighed and climbed out of bed, dressed, combed her hair and washed her face, aware of the dark circles around her eyes.
She emerged yawning from Home, and walked with Lulu, Rikku, Wakka, and Cid to the coast where their ship waited, docked and ready. Brother was already there, looking grumpy and barking orders at various members of their crew.
"He's a real grouch in the morning," Rikku informed Yuna, yawning widely.
Wakka took a dip under the ocean to wake himself up and emerged shaking water from his hair like a dog. "Watch yourself," Lulu snapped when some seawater splattered her dress.
"What a happy bunch," Cid said loudly, clapping Yuna's shoulder so hard that she nearly fell over. He was far more alert and cheerful than the rest of them. "What's to be grumpy about? You're finding your friend today, aren't ya?"
I hope, Yuna thought, but she nodded.
"Well then!" Cid pulled Yuna into a bear hug and ruffled her hair affectionately. "You be careful now, lil' niece," he ordered. "You too, Rikku." He hugged his daughter so tightly that she squeaked and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"We'll be careful, Dad," Rikku assured him.
"Thank you so much for all your help," Yuna added.
"'Least I can do," Cid said gruffly. "It's cause a' you that we Al Bhed have a place in Spira now, you know that, Yuna? Anything we can do for you. Anything at all."
"Thank you," Yuna said quietly.
"Thank you. And good luck finding your friend."
Lulu and Wakka said goodbye, then waited on the deck of the ship with Yuna as Cid and his children finished their farewells. Brother was the last one on the deck. He took a look around at all of them, then said quietly, "Nayto?"
"Nayto," Yuna replied, smiling.
Brother grinned. "Madc ku!"
Yuna stood at the rail and watched Bikanel's retreating shores for a while, then turned her eyes toward the open sea. Wait for me, Tidus, she thought steadily. I'm coming.
* * *
Dawn was just peeking over the horizon when Bikanel's distant shores came into view. Even with a fast machina boat, the journey across open sea from Guadosalam to Bikanel Island was taking several hours. At least this thing's easy to navigate, Tidus thought, checking the compass on the control panel. All he had to do was make sure that they were heading west and they were bound to end up on Bikanel.
Kimahri tapped him on the shoulder and silently pointed to the distant island, just visible on the horizon. Tidus stared at it in silence, chewing his lower lip. It was impossible to keep from hoping that Yuna would be there. At the same time he wondered what would happen if she was. What would he do, or say? The thought had never really crossed his mind before.
"Planning the reunion?" Auron murmured after a few moments.
"What? Oh," Tidus said, startled. "Kinda."
"What's kinda?" Jecht inquired, yawning. He lay stretched out on his back on the deck, hands behind his head. In consequence the others were rather hunched around him.
"I dunno. I'm just trying to figure out what I should do if–when–I see her."
"Say hello?" Auron suggested, hardly the romantic.
"Kiss 'er," Jecht said, grinning.
Tidus mumbled indistinctly. "He thinks he shouldn't take my advice," Jecht told Auron knowingly. "But I think I got the best advice this time."
But Kimahri shook his head. "No plan these things. What happens, happens."
"I agree with Kimahri," Auron said, nodding. Jecht looked miffed, but Auron glanced at Tidus, his eyes grave. "I wouldn't get your hopes too high. There's always a chance she won't be there."
"I know," Tidus said grimly.
The four made small talk over the next couple of hours as the island drew near. Finally the shores loomed directly ahead, speeding closer and close every minute. They grouped around the control panel and tried to figure out how to stop the boat.
"Um, you think I should...?"
"No, no, that's the accelerator."
"What 'bout this 'un?"
"Don't touch that, Jecht!"
There was no more time to argue as the boat shot out of the water and up the shore, sand flying in its wake. Finally the boat slowed and came to a shuddering halt, its propellers beating weakly in the sand. Tidus jabbed at a random button and the engine abruptly died.
"That works," Jecht commented, shaking sand out of his hair.
Kimahri climbed out of the boat and brushed a coat of sand from his shaggy blue fur as the rest clambered out behind him. "What direction do you suppose Home might be in?" Tidus asked dolefully, looking around at desert, desert, and more desert.
Kimahri inhaled and pointed. "That way."
"You can smell 'em all the way out here?" Jecht said, amazed.
Kimahri nodded. "Smell oil, grease. Powerful smells."
Auron shrugged and followed after Kimahri as he started off across the sands. "Ever hear the old proverb, 'follow the Ronso's nose?'"
"No," Tidus and Jecht chorused.
"Didn't think so. I made it up."
Tidus and Jecht blinked at him, then followed, shaking their heads. "I can never tell if he's jokin' or not," Jecht confided to his son.
"For once we agree," Tidus remarked. The grin they exchanged was a bit tentative, but a grin nonetheless.
They trudged through the desert, stopping every now and then so that Kimahri could get the scent of Home once more. "Smell Yuna," Kimahri muttered after they'd been walking for about a quarter of an hour. "Scent strong here."
Tidus's heart skipped a beat, and after that they walked a bit faster.
It wasn't long before they crested a particularly tall dune to find Home waiting, hidden in a scoop dug into the sand. Tidus halted and stared at it, blinking hard, overwhelmed with sudden nostalgia. It wasn't the same Home, he knew–that one had been destroyed before their very eyes on Cid's orders. Yet this new one had obviously been built in the same model as the last one, and it was so familiar that for a moment, he felt like he'd never left Spira at all.
His companions all stared at him, waiting. After a moment or two Auron said gently, "Are we going, or staying here all day?"
Tidus blinked. "Going," he muttered, and started off down the sand dune.
They didn't get very far. There was a shout from one of the many little figures that patrolled the perimeter of Home, and abruptly an entire squad of Al Bhed was charging them, rifles at the ready. The four men halted and pressed together, back to back, as the Al Bhed spread out to surround them.
"Fnu yna oui?" an Al Bhed demanded harshly.
"Um..." Tidus looked at his companions uncertainly.
"It's your show," Auron whispered.
Tidus sighed. "Thanks." Turning back to the Al Bhed, he said, "Uh...we're, uh..." Stalling, he thought fast. "Oh! We're looking for Cid, you know? Cid. Ci-id."
The group of Al Bhed looked around at each other and began to murmur suspiciously.
"How about Yuna?" Tidus tried hopefully. "Is she here?"
At this the murmuring became louder and more ominous. "I think you've upset 'em," Jecht said wisely.
"Thanks, I couldn't tell."
The Al Bhed who appeared to be the leader suddenly barked orders at the squad. The Al Bhed advanced on them, two to each man, grabbed them by the arms and began marching them toward Home.
Jecht groaned. "Don't tell me we're bein' arrested again."
* * *
The Al Bhed took their prisoners to one of the lowest levels below ground in Home and threw them into a large hangar-sort of room, bolting shut the gigantic metal doors behind them. "They call this a dungeon?" Jecht said dolefully, looking around the enormous, empty room. "You could play Blitzball in here–I mean, if it were full a' water."
"Good thing it isn't," Auron said, calmly settling cross-legged on the floor.
Tidus, pacing the width of the room round and round, was far from calm. "Dammit, dammit, dammit," he muttered. "Just when I thought our luck was about to turn–" He thought of something and turned to Kimahri. "Kimahri, can you smell Yuna here?"
Kimahri nodded. "Her scent very strong in Home. Is here, or was here very recently."
Tidus felt like crying, but he knew Jecht would never let him hear the end of it, so he didn't. "What if she's here right now and then leaves because she never knew we were here?"
"That would be unfortunate," Auron remarked, stretching out on the floor.
Tidus glared murderously at him. "I'm glad you can be so calm," he snapped.
Auron narrowed his eyes sharply. "Don't take that tone with me."
Tidus faltered. "Well–you–"
"Did you forget what I said about dealing with things when they happen?" Auron demanded. "We can't help the current situation we're in, so sit down, shut up, and wait." He looked around. "That goes for everyone."
Obediently Tidus, Jecht, and Kimahri sat. "I didn't do anythin'," Jecht muttered rebelliously. Auron ignored him.
Hours crawled by. Jecht eventually nodded off to sleep, snoring loudly, but Tidus couldn't rest. He fidgeted, staring at the doors as if willing someone to appear and let them out, but he knew Auron was right. There was nothing he could do right now except wait.
Finally, just when Tidus thought he might scream with impatience, the double doors swung open. Instantly all four of them were alert and on their feet as none other than Cid came striding in.
For a moment they all stared at each other. "Well, I'll be damned," Cid breathed. "They told me it was you, but I couldn't believe it 'till I saw it in the flesh." He stared at Tidus and shook his head. "It is you, in't it? I ain't just going crazy, am I?"
"Um, it is," Tidus said hesitantly. "I mean, you know, it's me and all."
Cid shook his head again and looked around at the rest of them. "Auron!" he cried, clearly startled. "My niece told me you were dead! She said she Sent you herself!"
"She did," Auron confirmed. "The Fayth allowed me to come back as a living man."
"Damn," Cid said weakly. He looked at Kimahri and smiled. "Well, at least I know my brain ain't playing tricks on me with this 'un. Good to see you again, Kimahri."
Kimahri nodded in greeting. Cid then looked at Jecht, frowning. "Now, him I don't recognize."
Tidus, Auron, and Jecht all exchanged looks. Then Tidus nodded. "This is my dad," he said steadily, turning back to Cid. "This is Jecht, the man who was Sin."
Cid's eyes widened. Tidus didn't doubt that he knew all that had occurred inside Sin–Yuna and Rikku would have told him. "You mean, he–who was Sin–"
"Yeah, yeah, that's me, I was Sin," Jecht said a bit peevishly.
"The Fayth allowed him to return as well," Auron explained. "The three of us–Tidus, Jecht, and I–ended up in Zanarkand together. We met Kimahri in Mount Gagazet, and we've been searching for Yuna ever since."
"That's right!" Tidus cried suddenly. "Cid, is Yuna here?"
Cid shook his head. "Sorry, kid," he said gently. "She left just this morning. Headed to Macalania with Rikku, Lulu, Wakka, n' Brother."
Tidus dropped to the floor with a little moan, putting his face in his hands.
"Around and around," Auron said mournfully. "We keep missing each other." He patted Tidus's shoulder sympathetically and asked Cid, "How long ago?"
"Just at dawn," Cid replied. "It's noon now, so..."
"May we borrow the airship to find her?" Auron inquired. Tidus perked up at that, but Cid shook his head.
"Airship's broken. That's what Yuna came here for too, to use it to find Tidus there, but there's a damaged fuel line or sommat. We gotta take the ship apart; it ain't gonna be in commission for a few weeks, at least." Cid thought for a moment, ignoring Tidus's soft curse. "I could give you a boat," he offered. "It'd take a few more hours to get it ready and docked an' all but maybe–"
"No," Tidus interrupted, standing. The others stared at him; his eyes glinted strangely. "Auron said there are some things you can't help, but...there are some things you can. I'm tired of waiting. I'm going to find her now."
With that, he started toward the doors. The others gaped at him openmouthed.
"How the heck are you plannin' to get across t' the mainland?" Jecht demanded.
Tidus turned back with a reckless grin. "I'll swim."
"Swim...!" Jecht choked, but his son had already gone. He turned to Auron. "He can't swim that far!"
"Actually, I'm willing to bet that he can," Auron remarked. "Didn't you know, Jecht? When your son is determined enough, he can do just about anything."
* * *
To be continued.
* * *
Translations
Crufuvv – Showoff
Ev cra lyhd ica dras bnubanmo, cra lyhd lynno dras muytat – If she can't use them properly, she can't carry them loaded
Cramm kad rancamv gemmet – She'll get herself killed
Drydc fro es daylrehk cra – That's why I'm teaching her
Pa lynavim – Be careful
Nayto – Ready
Madc ku – Let's go
Fnu yna oui? – Who are you?
* * *
Reader Question
Last chapter I got a Somewhat Answerable Question in a review, so here it is...
Q: In the end of the game Tidus meets Jecht, Auron, and Braska after jumping into the cloud, which I'm assuming is the Farplane. If they see him then, then why does Tidus not be with him for five years and where did he go?
– Courtesy of snowprincess
A: The reason Tidus is not with Auron, Braska, and Jecht for the five years between the end of the game and my story is that Tidus never goes to the Farplane (or at least, that's what I believe). In the game we never actually see Tidus die, he simply fades away from existence in Spira. On the other hand, we know with complete certainty that Auron, Braska, and Jecht are dead. Those three were (or in Jecht's case, became) part of the "real" world of Spira and actually died, whereas Tidus merely ceased to exist when the Fayth stopped dreaming. Bearing in mind that Tidus was a dream of the Fayth, how then would it be possible for him to die? The dreams that we dream, do they die when we wake up, or do they fade away somewhere, lost in our consciousness? The truth is that I don't know where Tidus went, but I'm sure it wasn't the Farplane. Dreams don't die–thus, it's possible for them to return.