And another chapter is done. This one's longer than the others, to make up for the short Chapter 7. I'm so happy people actually like this story. Makes me happy. Thanks for the reviews too! >^-^< p>Thanks to this story, I can now read some Al Bhed and piece together simple 3-word phrases if I try hard enough. I feel pathetic.
If the picture link from the last chapter didn't work, you can go to www.stormpages.com/dskatsuki and go to the Art section and find it.
Kirei na Kanjou
The ship had sailed far now, and Bikanel Island was nowhere to be seen. Ku stared down at the waves, parting gently for the giant ship that had invaded their home. Watching the movement of the waves made her think of Leviathan, and in turn, what he had told her.
Fate… she thought. Fate is against me, he said. Fate doesn't want me, so Fate will get rid of me…
She sighed, confused about everything that he had said. It reminded her of the first day she had arrived in Spira, not knowing anything about the new land she was in. Now she was here, on an Al Bhed ship, sailing to Besaid to start her pilgrimage.
"Ec drec ouin vencd desa uh y creb?" (Is this your first time on a ship?) a voice asked.
Ku turned, broken out of her reverie. Brother was standing next to her. "Oac, ed ec. E hajan kud y lryhla du ku uh uha eh Zanarkand, pid E ymfyoc fyhdat du." (Yes, it is. I never got a chance to go on one in Zanarkand, but I always wanted to.) She looked back over the side of the ship at the waves. "Oui yna hud cbaygehk English yhosuna?" (You are not speaking English anymore?)
Brother laughed and faced the deck. "Hu, E drehg E ryja ryt ahuikr bnyldela. Yht Father ec hud rana du clumt sa ypuid ed." (No, I think I have had enough practice. And Father is not here to scold me about it.)
She had to smile at that. "Oayr," she said, "Cid lyh pa y byeh cusadesac." (Yeah, Cid can be a pain sometimes.) She leaned farther over the side. "Tu dra fyjac ajan syga oui tewwo?" (Do the waves ever make you dizzy?)
He leaned on the side next to her and looked down. "Hud naymmo, E ryja paah uh syho crebc yht ys icat du dra fyjac. Drao muug jano lyms du sa." (Not really, I have been on many ships and am used to the waves. They look very calm to me.) Brother stood up. "Tu drao syga oui celg?" (Do they make you sick?)
Ku's eyes were stuck on the waves now. "No…" she said in English, once again lost in thought. "They just… make me think a lot, that's all."
He turned back to her, trying to figure out what she was thinking and failing miserably. "Ev oui yna denat, oui lyh ku nacd tufhcdyenc. Drana ec y pat dryd ryc paah bnabynat vun oui." (If you are tired, you can go rest downstairs. There is a bed that has been prepared for you.)
Without looking at him, she said quietly, "Thanks, Brother. I'll go down later."
He placed his hand on her shoulder, making her finally look at him. "Fa cruimt kad du Besaid dusunnuf sunhehk. E femm fyga oui frah fa ynneja." (We should get to Besaid tomorrow morning. I will wake you when we arrive.) She nodded and smiled at him. "E ys kuehk du ku dymg du cusa uv so vneahtc huf. E femm caa oui dusunnuf drah." (I am going to go talk to some of my friends now. I will see you tomorrow then.) He walked off to a small group of men, leaving Ku alone.
Well, he seems nice, Ku thought. At least that part of the pilgrimage will be easy. She leaned against the railing of the ship and stared out at the vast ocean, resuming her daydream. ******************
"Rao, Brother!" (Hey, Brother!) one of the men greeted as Brother walked back towards them. Everyone in the group, excluding Brother, worked on the ship. "Oui yna kuehk du pa fedr dryd kenm vun y frema, nekrd?" (You are going to be with that girl for a while, right?)
Brother nodded at him. "Yc ran guardian, oac." (As her guardian, yes.)
"Hah," another chuckled, "Oui yna milgo du ryja y Summoner mega dryd." (You are lucky to have a Summoner like that.)
"Ev oui ycg sa, E drehg cra ec cdnyhka," (If you ask me, I think she is strange,) said a third. He glanced sideways at the girl who still hadn't moved from her original position.
"Oayr," said the last of the group. "E sayh, cra zicd lusac uid uv hufrana yht myhtc eh Sanubia Desert. Drah cra cissuhc Leviathan, yht huf cra ec y Summoner." (Yeah, I mean, she just comes out of nowhere and lands in Sanubia Desert. Then she summons Leviathan, and now she is a Summoner.) He adjusted his goggles slightly and waved a hand dismissively at Ku.
"Cu," said the first, "fryd tu oui drehg uv ran, Brother?" (So, what do you think of her, Brother?)
"Fryd?" he stuttered. "Uh… E sayh, E ryja hud ghufh ran jano muhk, cu E lyhhud cyo..." (What? Uh… I mean, I have not known her very long, so I cannot say…) He looked distractedly in her direction.
"Vencd esbnacceuhc, drah! Fryd tet oui drehg uv ran frah oui dymgat du ran?" (First impressions, then! What did you think of her when you talked to her?)
"Famm, cra caasc hela..." (Well, she seems nice…)
"Tu oui mega ran?" (Do you like her?) one asked curiously.
"Mega E cyet, cra caasc hela." (Like I said, she seems nice.)
"E tu hud drehg ra sayhc dryd geht uv mega," (I do not think he means that kind of like,) another joked.
Brother turned a deep shade of red. "Cra ec hud naymmo so doba..." (She is not really my type…)
"Heh, banrrybc Naida ec suna Brother'c doba?" (Heh, perhaps Naida is more Brother's type?)
At that comment, Brother turned even redder. The others laughed heartily, catching Ku's attention.
"Dra Summoner ec muugehk drec fyo!" (The Summoner is looking this way!) said the first of the two who disliked her.
They all looked in her direction. She was staring at them, a somewhat surprised look on her face. She gave a small smile, attempted a wave, and started walking towards the stairs to go downstairs. The group of Al Bhed men didn't move, except for one who waved back at her.
"Cra muugc jano denat." (She looks very tired.)
"Oac…" (Yes…) Brother said. Or maybe, she is just thinking again…
Besaid is not very tolerant to those who do not follow Yevon's teachings.
Ku looked over to the blue-haired fayth sitting next to her. He visited her almost every time she was asleep, usually to give her advice, sometimes just to talk. To her, it sometimes seemed as though he was lonely. "Yeah, that's what Cid said. I wonder how they'll be to us?"
I am sure they will not send you away. You are a Summoner; they respect that. However, for your guardian…
Ku cast her eyes to the ground. "I think Brother will be ok."
Do not blame the Besaid people. You must understand what Sin has done to them.
At his Summoner's melancholy look, he continued.
Sin destroyed their home, and most of the people living in Besaid now were just children then.
"Oh," Ku replied, "I understand. I think it's… nice that they're so faithful to Yevon. It's just, what Sin has done to them, to everyone…"
Leviathan nodded in understanding. He stood up and offered his hand to her.
You realize their pain more than most others, and I think they will be kind to you. However, you will have to protect your guardian.
"I'll try," she said as she took his hand and was pulled up.
There is one man there who will be especially difficult. He has indirectly suffered much at the hands of the Al Bhed, and he holds a strong hatred for them. He will be determined to stop you from receiving the fayth of Besaid.
"He has suffered more than the others, then," she said quietly. "I understand how he feels."
Leviathan smiled and grasped her shoulder.
I am sure you will do well in your journey. You are much stronger than you look… I am glad to be your Aeon.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. "Do I look that weak?" She grinned jokingly and waved Leviathan's hand away. He made a small sound that was reminiscent of a laugh, something he had not done for many centuries.
It seems you have arrived at Besaid. I believe your guardian is calling to you.
Leviathan placed two of his fingers on Ku's forehead. She felt herself drifting away, slowly being forced back into reality.
"Ku! Fa ryja ynnejat eh Besaid. Fyga ib!" (Ku! We have arrived at Besaid. Wake up!) Brother shouted as he shook the sleeping form. It didn't move. "Tu oui naymmo cmaab drec taabmo?" (Do you really sleep this deeply?) He shook her again.
"Unhh…" Ku mumbled incoherently. "Nn…"
Brother sighed. He started to say something softly, a blue light starting to glow above the Summoner's head. The light became solid, forming water, which then proceeded to drop onto her head.
"Blech!" she sputtered, jumping out of the bed. "Brother, what was that?!" She shook her head, water flying everywhere.
"Water spell," he said as he unsuccessfully suppressed his laughter. "Very useful."
"Hmph," she said. Ku wrung out her hair and kept glaring at Brother. Have to learn magic to get him back for that… she noted silently.
"We go now." He started to walk out the door, Ku following closely behind. They went down the plank that connected the ship to the Besaid dock, a few of the boatmen their goodbyes to them.
Ku stepped onto the warm golden sand. "It's kinda like Home, don't you think?" she asked her guardian, who was looking curiously at their surroundings.
"Oac," he said.
She turned to him. "You should probably speak English around here, just in case."
"…Yes."
"Well," she said, walking towards the jungle part of Besaid, "I'll do most of the talking, ok? Just try not to talk too much and don't look people in the eyes." She looked down at his oil-stained clothes and tattoos. "Er… I think you look a little too Al-Bhed though…"
Brother looked at her in confusion, at which she pointed to his clothes. He nodded and brushed them absentmindedly with his hand.
"Let's try to enjoy ourselves, alright? It's a really pretty island. I like it here." They were standing before the path that led to Besaid Village. Ku reached up and pulled one of the massive green leaves from the tree nearest to them, folded the leaf up, and put it in the small pouch she had around her waist. She had added the accessory to the costume herself. "Souvenir," she stated to Brother.
He gave her an odd look then saw a round object fly towards them. It would have hit Ku, had he not caught it. A small child with brown hair and dark amber skin ran across the path, searching for it.
"Huh?" the child said as he saw the Summoner and her guardian. "Hey! You're a Summoner, right?" He pointed to the ball that Brother was holding. "Can we have our blitzball back?"
"Sure," Ku said. She turned her head to Brother, who threw the ball back to the child. "Which way is it to the village?"
The small boy pointed to a path to their left that led up to a higher level. "It's up that-a-way! It'll be the road in the middle!"
Ku smiled and bowed to the boy. "Thank you."
"Everyone in the village will be so happy to see you! They've been waiting for a Summoner to defeat Sin. You should hurry up and see them!" He giggled and started to run off. "Bye bye, Lady Summoner!" He disappeared from view.
"Come on, Brother, we have to get to Besaid!" Ku started to walk up the path with Brother behind her.
It was bright and sunny on Besaid Island today. Very few fiends were on the road today, and the ones that did attack the pair were weak and easily dealt with. Even Ku was able to take out one or two of them with her scythe, although she relied quite heavily on Brother's firepower and magic. She decided that it was unnecessary to summon Leviathan, not only because the fiends were weak, but also because the island was fairly small and would have been flooded with water.
After a short walk, they reached the entrance to the tiny village. As they approached it, Ku could see it was made up of no more than seven crudely built houses. A large temple stood at the back, its white stone surface glowing proudly in the hot Besaid sun. A summoning platform was stationed in the center of the village.
An old woman came to them as they entered. "A Summoner!" she said excitedly. "Everyone, a Summoner has come to Besaid!"
Ku did the prayer gesture and the villagers returned it. Brother stood stiffly behind her. "I have come to pray to the fayth of Valefor."
"But of course, Lady Summoner," a man at the front said. "We welcome you warmly to Besaid. Please, we wish both you and your guardian to enjoy yourselves here."
As they walked through the crowd, a few of the people noticed Brother's obvious Al Bhed origin. A few gasped. "An Al Bhed! What is an Al Bhed doing with the Summoner?"
"Hey!" A tall man stopped in front of Ku, blocking her path. His flame-shaped red hair was held up by a blue headband, and he was wearing clothes that she had seen a few other Besaidians wearing. "No Al Bhed is gonna get in the temple, ya?"
A man who has suffered indirectly at the hands of the Al Bhed, Ku remembered. So this is who Leviathan was talking about. "We don't want to cause any conflict here. We just want to see the fayth."
"So that Al Bhed can defile the temple!?" He laughed caustically. "I'm not gonna let you do that."
"Captain Wakka," another red-haired man wearing the same uniform as the first said. "Do you really think this is a good idea?"
"I'm not just gonna watch while some sand-blasted grease monkey messes up the temple!" Wakka yelled. "I'm sorry, Lady Summoner, but you gotta understand, ya?"
Ku bowed her head. "I can sympathize with you, but…" She paused, looking at Brother for something to say. "He's still my guardian. I wish for him to accompany me into the temple."
"Lady Summoner! He is an Al Bhed! He'll-"
"Stop, Wakka." A woman wearing a long black dress strode up to them.
"But, Lu!"
The black-clad woman cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Let them pass. She is a Summoner. You have no right to stand in her way."
Most of the villagers had backed off by now, a few shooting glares at Brother. A girl, about 16, and a Ronso stood nearby. "Wakka," the girl said as she walked to him, "let them pass. I think it's nice that she has an Al Bhed for a guardian. They aren't all bad, right?" She turned to Ku and Brother. "My name's Yuna. This is Wakka, Lulu, and Kimahri. They will be my guardians when I start my pilgrimage next year. I mean, if you don't beat me to it!" She giggled kindly and started to walk to the temple. "Come to the temple! We can talk more inside."
Ku walked after her and entered the stone temple. It was large inside as well, and many statues lined the walls of past Summoners. A few statues that stood near the back were even bigger. A tune echoed throughout the building, emitting from a door to the Cloister of Trials.
"Wow…" Ku said in amazement, taking in the sights around her. "It's beautiful… I've never seen anything like it!" She started to go around the sides of the temple, examining the statues.
"This is the temple of Valefor," Yuna stated as she walked up behind the two. "It's nice, isn't it?" Ku nodded. "I sometimes like to come here just to sit and listen to the Hymn."
"The Hymn?" Ku asked. "Is that what the song is?"
"Yes," Yuna answered. "The fayth sings it."
"Oh…" Ku wondered if Leviathan could sing like that. She decided to ask him later. Brother leaned over and whispered something in her ear. "What? Oh, ok. Yuna? Brother wants to know if you are daughter of High Summoner Braska."
"Yes, I am. My father defeated Sin ten years ago."
Brother pointed at Yuna. "You are… cousin."
At Yuna's puzzled look, Ku continued for him. "His father is a man named Cid, the leader of the Al Bhed. I had heard that Cid's sister married Lord Braska, so that means you two are cousins, I guess." She paused. "Wait… that means, you're half-Al Bhed, right?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, Wakka doesn't really like the Al Bhed, so I have to keep it a secret. I'm sorry for what he did earlier."
Ku waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure we'll get that a lot during our pilgrimage, so it's a good way to get prepared. So have you met Cid?"
The girl shook her head. "I have never actually met my uncle, but my mother said that if I ever needed help, to go and seek him. It's nice to be able to meet one of my cousins." Brother grinned. "Well, I guess I shouldn't stall you any longer. You should hurry and see the Fayth! Come!"
Yuna ran up to the priest blocking the stairway to the Cloister of Trials. After briefly talking to him, they appeared to have reached an agreement and the man moved to the side. Yuna ran back to Ku and Brother.
"He says you can pass. I must return to the village now and do some more of my Summoner training. Good luck!" She walked quickly out of the temple.
"She was nice," Ku said. "You're lucky to have her as your cousin." She started up the stairs to the large door before her. "Let's go, Brother! To the Cloister of Trials!" She pushed the door open, revealing a dark passageway. She and her guardian entered and the door shut loudly behind them.
Another chapter done, this time in 2 days. It's 11:10 right now, and vacation is OVER. ::sob sob:: I have to sleep semi-early now. I probably won't update as much anymore, but I'll try to write a chapter a week.
Look, no Cactuars at all in this chapter. Hahaha.
::can't think of anything else to pointlessly blabber about:: Next Chapter: Inside the Cloister of Trials, and probably some more. ^^
