Final Fantasy X: Journey
"Just who are you, anyway?" Tida demanded once they were outside, and out of earshot of everyone. She jerked her arm out of his grasp.
"I was only two years old when I saw Lady Yuna and Sir Tidus at Lake Macalania. It was plain to see they loved each other, but both weren't exactly sure how to make the move. I've always been able to see them so clearly in my mind. You . . . you look just like your father, but," he tilted her head up, "you have your mother's eyes."
Tida backed away. "Who are you?"
"People call me Dally, but my real name's Chappu. My dad knew some blitzer guy by that name, and so that's what I was named," he said. Chappu shrugged. "There, now you know who I am."
"I guess so. But why are you so interested in following me around?"
"Every summoner needs a guardian," Chappu said, glancing over at her. Tida was standing there, hands on hips, eyes flickering with flames dancing in them. She jerked her head slightly to the side.
"So what?"
"I'd like to be your guardian. Do you accept?" Chappu asked. Tida swung around, startled by his sudden request. She stared at him.
"You want to what?!"
"You refuse?"
"Well, no. You just caught me by surprise. I really wasn't expecting any of this to happen," Tida said, blinking. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I accept."
"Good. I promise to guard you with my life until things are set straight," Chappu swore, bowing to Tida, who cocked her head.
"I don't think I like this bowing thing," she said, shaking her head. Chappu smiled.
"It was just out of courtesy, and to seal the deal," he replied.
"Yeah, okay."
"What did the fayth tell—or, what have the fayth told you so far?" Chappu asked, settling himself down on the ground, and looking up at her.
Tida blew out a breath and plopped down across from him. "They told me only to call them if I really needed them. They said not to abuse my power, that this is a gift in return to my father," Tida told him, flopping backward onto the soft grass. "Whatever that means."
"It means that they're thanking your father through you," Chappu said, shaking his head at her ignorance. Tida sighed again, putting her hands behind her head.
"This is way different from what I used to be. I used be a thief named Jai, and now I suddenly remember who I am, the daughter of High Summoner Lady Yuna and her ever-faithful guardian and lover, Sir Tidus. Big shocker." Tida smiled. "Not really a bad rep."
Chappu chuckled. "I guess not."
Tida rolled over, facing him, propping her head up on her elbow. She studied him quietly.
He was fairly tall, from what she could see. It was hard to tell, though, with him sitting down. He had jet-black hair and bright/light blue eyes, kind of like a cloudless sky. He was cute and easy to look at, she admitted to herself, but what kind of dress style on Spira did he have?
He had on black blitz pants and a red blitz shirt—if you could call it a shirt. He had some sort of wrap on his left arm—kind of an armguard, she guessed. On his feet, she noticed, were black boots with silver plates over the front.
He was also extremely well built, with big—but too big—muscles.
"So, tell me, Chappu, what made you come to Besaid, and then follow me all the way to Kilika on the S.S. Liki? Was I that suspicious?" she said at last.
Chappu shook his head. "I don't really know. I saw you that night, when you had that dream. Something told me that was no ordinary dream. I wanted to go with you on your journey."
"Oh. I guess we should be calling it a pilgrimage from now on." Tida giggled. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
"For real? You sure sound a lot older," Tida commented.
" 'Wisdom beyond my years'," Chappu said.
"I'm not even going to ask."
* * *
"Shouldn't we alert Kimahri?" Yuna asked, racing after Rikku as they ran to the airship docked outside awaiting them to board.
"Nah. Kimahri doesn't need to get involved in this. It's too dangerous. Besides, he'll have enough trouble keeping the Ronso population up," Rikku called back over her shoulder.
Yuna puffed along after the energetic Rikku. Wakka and Lulu ran along behind them, wondering how Rikku managed to keep so much energy in her body at one time.
"Come on!" Rikku cried, leaping onboard the Titan airship. Yuna and the other guardians followed. Rikku led them jovially to the cockpit, where Cid was waiting—not exactly so patiently.
"Took ya long enough," he snapped.
"Sorry, Pops," Rikku said as the other three ran in breathlessly, Yuna clutching a stitch in her side. Wakka abandoned all pretenses and collapsed to the floor while Lulu simply leaned against the wall, trying to regain her breath.
"Out of shape, aren't ya?" Cid laughed, slapping his knee.
"What's our first stop?" Yuna gasped out.
"I figure stopping by Mt. Gagazet and warning them might not be a bad idea." Rikku said, looking around for approval. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"So, to Mt. Gagazet!" Cid barked. Brother sighed. His father desperately needed to learn a little relaxation some time—if not for his sake, everyone else's.
* * *
"What's taking so long?" Tida whined, sitting down on some cargo boxes. Chappu grimaced; if he'd known she was going to whine, he'd have never wanted to become her guardian in the first place.
"Will you put a lid on it?" he said though gritted teeth.
"But I want out of here! I'd like to go Luca, travel the Highroad, and then make it to the Temple of Djose." Tida complained, throwing her hands in the air.
"It'll get here when it gets here, now shut up about it!" Chappu snapped, losing it.
Surprised, Tida clamped her mouth shut, but still glared at him with fiery eyes.
After a few more minutes of silence, the S.S. Winno sailed into the docking area. There were no passengers, since a blitzball tournament was going on in Luca. Chappu and Tida boarded after Chappu agreed to shell out the gil needed to ride—since Tida didn't have any money and had forced her way onto the Liki.
"Impressive. This one's just like the other boat," Tida said sarcastically.
"I didn't really have to pay for you, ya know," Chappu said. "I'm going below to get some sleep. Why don't you go up on the upper deck and practice your magic—or your skills with that sword."
Tida looked down at the Brotherhood resting casually by her hip. Raising one eyebrow, she pulled it up and held it out in front of her. "I guess I could."
"Good, because I might not always be there." Chappu disappeared below deck.
"Meanie!" Tida retorted, but she did as he had suggested.
Astonishingly, Chappu was right. Tida could suddenly perform Fire, Water, Thunder, and Blizzard without any mishaps. She could also carry out Cure, which was really no surprise—her mother was a White Mage, after all.
Her sword skills had also improved. She could now slash more quickly and raise her strength with a skill called Cheer. She guessed it had to come for her father—her mother sure couldn't have been able to do it, fighting with a staff.
A staff. Tida drew Nirvana out in a flash of holy light. It was beautiful, with all the different rainbow colors. Tida pressed it to her forehead, feeling its power.
"I wish I could have seen my mother use you," she whispered. Slowly, Tida's hands drifted into position along the staff and she pulled away.
She danced, softly, smoothly. It was mesmerizing, the way she moved. She wasn't summoning; she wasn't sending, but simply dancing.
It was hard to tell at first, but a warm glow was forming around her, changing her. And suddenly, she wasn't in shorts and a shirt, but in a deep blue skirt and silver straps to make a shirt of sorts. They were no sleeves, but on her forearms were wisps of white cloth, silver at the ends.
Nirvana was remembering Yuna through Tida.
And Chappu watched.
* * *
"Kimahri pray for Yuna journey."
"Thanks, Kimahri," Yuna said, smiling up at the tall blue warrior Ronso.
"Yuna welcome. Call Kimahri when need Kimahri."
"I will," Yuna promised, hugging him. Kimahri hugged the smaller woman, and lifted her off the ground a good foot. Gently for someone so big, he set Yuna down on her feet.
"Be careful," Kimahri said, nodding to Wakka, Lulu, and Rikku.
"No sweat, Kimahri. We'll have Seymour back in the Farplane in no time—and for good!" Rikku said, punching the Godhand into the air for emphasis.
"Kimahri say be careful. Kimahri no say hurry."
"Oh."
Back onboard the Titan, Yuna went to the cabin area and sat down near the window so she could look down at the passing sights and the disappearing peak of Mt. Gagazet. Yuna sighed, and pressed one hand flat against the glass.
"1Buun Myto Oihy. 2Cra sicd secc ran tyikrdan dannepmo," a woman said watching Yuna said. Her smile was sad as she studied the ex-summoner.
"3E ryja y vaamehk cra'mm veht ran," a man said, looking at the Al Bhed woman beside him. Unsure, the woman nodded in agreement.
"4Uha tyo, cra femm. 5Ran tyikrdan femm veht ran, E pameaja," the woman countered, smiling brightly now. "6E ys cina."
"7Oac."
Yuna heard them speaking, but she'd never really studied the Al Bhed language. She wasn't sure why. She supposed it was because she had never really had to.
It was another thing that reminded her of Tidus. Somehow, he'd learned their language. Between him and Rikku, no one else in the party had needed to bother with it. Yuna wished she had now.
Yuna felt a tear slide down her cheek. Rikku had been teaching Tida Al Bhed words from the time she'd first learned to speak. By age seven, Tida had an expansive vocabulary of the language, large enough for Rikku and Tida to have conversations without having to pause because Tida didn't know the words.
Yuna had always thought of what it would be like to hear Tidus and Tida having a conversation in Al Bhed—sharing a secret between father and daughter, and one Yuna wouldn't be able to understand without someone to translate it. But that had never happened, and would never happen.
Not now, not ever.
1Buun Myto Oihy means "Poor Lady Yuna."
2Cra sicd secc ran tyikrdan dannepmo means "She must miss her daughter terribly."
3E ryja y vaamehk cra'mm veht ran means "I have a feeling she'll find her."
4Uha tyo, cra femm means "One day, she will."
5Ran tyikrdan femm veht ran, E pameaja means "Her daughter will find her, I believe."
6E ys cina means "I am sure."
7Oac means "Yes."
Wow… I got my reviews and much thanks to those who did…. Now, if I have 8, I'll put up chapter 6. Not so bad, ne? Lata.
Angel of the Faith
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Tida, Chappu, and Chappu's weapons.