Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X or any of its characters. Square on the other hand, does; and if they would JUST bring over some blitzballs from Japan to sell to me, I'd buy them!!! (Yup, they really do make them.)
Character thoughts in "italics." Natsu da! Umi da! Blitzuboooru!
*************
Tidus watched as Yuna took Lulu's child into her arms, holding him gently.
"...She'd make a good mother you know?"
He blushed at the thought and what it implied. He continued to watch her as she smiled and talked excitedly.
"The way she is now, you'd never know she'd been heartbroken..."
*************
Final Fantasy X: Beginnings
Chapter Eight: Pure Heart
*************
"Tidus, want to hold him?" Yuna asked, effectively bringing Tidus back to reality.
"Huh? Oh. Right!" Tidus said, extending his arms hesitantly. He'd had no experience with children really, except with the screaming mothers that just happened to be his fans. He accepted the child into his arms slowly, feeling a little embarrassed at his inexperience. He was thankful that the child was sleeping at the moment, because he was sure that the baby would cry. They always did. Somehow. But once in his arms, he felt a sort of peace. "See? That wasn't so bad," he told himself mentally. He looked up to see Yuna watching the baby and alternately looking up at him with a slight smile.
He knew what she was thinking, and at the moment was thinking the same thing too. That maybe one day they'd have a family of their own. He gave a look back at her, showing he understood. Yet another example of words unsaid between them.
Rikku was growing wary of the mushiness starting to build between her cousin and Tidus. No one else seemed to notice, as Wakka and Kimahri were still tending to Lulu. She looked back and forth between the two groups in the room, feeling just a little left out. "Uh... Lulu! What did you decide to name the baby?" She made it a point to talk extra loud.
Lulu sat up in the bed, and looked at Wakka. "We've decided to name him... Chappu." The statement caused gasps of surprise from everyone but Lulu and Wakka.
Yuna immediately came to her side. "But Lulu...!" She wore an expression of worry.
"It's ok, I've gotten over that part of my life already, and it's time for a fresh start. Though... I'd like to remember a little bit of the past somehow, you know?" Lulu could still see Yuna was worried for her. She looked up at Tidus who was still holding her newborn child. "The little one won't be a replacement for Chappu, just a happy reminder." She stroked Yuna's face. "So don't worry, ok?"
"Ok." Yuna nodded, though Lulu could tell she was still worried about the decision.
Tidus, now a bit uncomfortable from carrying the baby too long, started to fidget; which didn't go unnoticed by Wakka, the new father. "Here brudda, let me take him, k?" He accepted Chappu into his strong arms. "Hey Lu...when can we start giving this one blitzball lessons? Next year? Or how about...next week, YA?!" He grinned extra big.
Lulu scoffed jokingly. "Ok. That's it. You don't get to hold him anymore," she said with her arms outstretched.
Wakka was about to give him to her but instead leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead. "You know I'm jokin', love..."
"Of course." She smiled. "But give him to me anyway."
"Awww...Lu---!" Wakka sighed in defeat. He reluctantly handed the baby over.
Almost everyone in the room laughed at their exchange. Even Kimahri smiled, just a little.
Tidus found it odd that he wasn't really laughing this time; it seemed more like a cover than anything else. Almost like how the others laughed on the pilgrimage. There were many things weighing on his mind...
"Like...well...um."
He just needed a little time to figure them out.
***************
After the initial commotion, Wakka shooed everyone out of the hut to let Lulu get some rest. Once out in the sun, they all discovered that there was nothing to do without Lulu telling them what needed to be done. Over the course of two years, Lulu had become *everyone's* mother apparently, her becoming pregnant just added to that particular side of her. This was all news to Tidus, of course.
"So guys? Anything planned for today?" Tidus asked innocently. He was given puzzled looks by everyone and didn't know what was going on until Rikku pointed to Wakka; motioning for Tidus to be quiet with one of her 'special' faces. Tidus would've laughed at her antics, but all that came out was an embarrassing snort when he tried to hold it in. Rikku slapped her forehead and sighed.
"Aw geez... I *knew* you couldn't handle it!"
Rikku's comment earned her suspicious looks from Yuna and Kimahri. Wakka didn't seem to notice though.
Wakka suddenly perked up, with his fists clenched. This surprised everyone in the group, causing them step away from him. The bright Besaid Sun just overhead didn't help matters either. "We're going to Guadosalam!" Wakka proclaimed, his finger pointing in no specific direction.
"Why?" Yuna asked. "Did you and Lulu find something about what happened at Luca?" Wakka answered with a nod and grin.
Rikku stopped fidgeting for a moment. "Oh yeah...with all *this* going on, I almost forgot what we were doing before!"
"Kimahri not forget. Ronso never forget." Kimahri's deep voice boomed over the two girls', bringing silence along with it. It was still a miracle when Kimahri spoke in full sentences. Well, sometimes.
Tidus came from behind Yuna and gave her a small pat on the back. "Guess it's time we get going, huh?"
"Roger that!" She giggled.
It was a short walk for the group to the save point in the Crusader's lounge, and an even shorter trip to Cid's airship. It was funny how he'd shout a long string of curses every time they paid him a surprise visit.
**************
"Alright everyone. Look sharp! We're gonna go straight for the mansion since the people here are kinda...y'know," Wakka said, his voice just above a whisper. He motioned for everyone to follow him silently. Considering the way the Guado acted last time; having unnecessary attention drawn to them was the last thing they needed.
Setting foot in Guadosalam brought back many memories for Tidus. Though since most of them had to do with Seymour, they really weren't particularly good ones. Just thinking about his *face* caused him to clench his teeth in anger. He hated how he had stood in their way, he hated his pompous attitude, he hated how he took Yuna away from him, and he *hated*...
"Hey, you ok?" Yuna had come up from the right to walk beside him, a worried look on her face.
Still walking, Tidus noticed that both his hands were in fists, his jaw felt a little sore, and he felt tense all over. It was strange that he felt so much hate for one person, even though Seymour had been dead for a while now. Tidus took a deep breath under Yuna's watchful eye. He turned his head to meet her eyes and smiled. "I'm ok, it's just that thinking about Seymour just really...ticks me off."
Yuna clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at him. A common pose for her, though Tidus found it cute. "So just don't! What's in the past is in the past. Even that slimy old jerk..." She laughed a bit and turned her attention back to where she was going. "I can't believe I actually looked up to him once. I mean...wow! Now that I think about it, he was so... NASTY!"
Rikku, Wakka, and Kimahri turned around in front of them, only hearing the last part of Yuna's spiel. Yuna clamped her hand over her mouth, suddenly feeling very embarrassed.
Tidus edged in front of her, making a hand gesture. "We were just talking about Seymour."
Wakka shrugged. "Oh."
Rikku giggled a bit at Yuna. "Gotcha."
"...." Kimahri said nothing, as usual.
All three of them understood completely and turned back around. Tidus was thankful that they did. He surprised Yuna just a bit when he craned his neck around to land a quick kiss on her lips. "Thanks for worrying about me, I appreciate it, " he said, whispering into her ear.
She smiled and kissed him back, tiptoeing just a bit to reach him. "No problem, Blitz Ace."
He was thankful he had someone like her to watch over him. In time he would tell her everything that bothered him lately. In the back of his mind he wondered if his mother could control his old man's spastic temper so easily...
His thoughts were interrupted by Wakka's loud knocks on the mansion door; as they had already arrived at their destination.
The heavy door of the mansion opened slowly, as if the person behind it was being cautious. A pair of Guado eyes appeared in the shadows, carefully scanning the visitors. Curious, Yuna peeked over Rikku's shoulder to see what was taking so long to open the door. Upon seeing the Grand Maestress, the Guado suddenly became nervous. He patted down his well pressed uniform, and opened the door swiftly, surprising the people that stood in front of it.
"G-Grand Maestress Yuna! Please! Come in!" He bowed extra low for her.
Tidus looked to his right to see Yuna astounded at his display. "Thank you sir..." She bowed to him as well. Tidus grinned inwardly. Yuna still had some things to learn about handling fame and what you could do with it. Somehow though, he couldn't imagine Yuna reacting in any other way.
Wakka had his arms crossed and a slight frown on his face as the Guado led them through the mansion into the waiting room, which seemed to be decorated the same way it had been when Seymour was still around. Wakka's usual grin returned for just an instant. "If we solve this thing, Lulu'll be so proud, ya?"
He barely noticed the blur with a blonde ponytail rush by until...
"CRUNCH!!!!!"
Rikku, just having taken a bite of a humongous apple, looked up to see everyone's attention focused on her. Her swirly green eyes darted back and forth. "Hehehe... this stuff's good!" she grinned. Then she went back to eating some more.
The Guado doorman bowed once again to the group, "Please. Make yourself comfortable..." He then left them abruptly, probably to notify the leader... whoever that was. The clang of the heavy metal doors as they shut echoed throughout the room.
Tidus leaned up against a wall in thought, his pose not unlike Auron's. Now that he thought about it, that Guado seemed a bit familiar. He tried to remember what made him recognize the guy, but decided to forget about it for the time being. "They all look the same to me anyway," He shrugged his shoulders and got up from his place on the wall to join Rikku in getting some grub. "Can't be thinking on an empty stomach now, can we?"
Five minutes and a croissant later, Tidus looked up to see the doors on the other side of the room open, revealing Tromell Guado plus four other Guado guards walking in hastily, including the doorman from earlier. Tidus was amazed that he had some sort of ability to tell them apart now... He rubbed his eyes. Well, maybe just the doorman, for now. It wasn't so much his face that he recognized, it was more like his presence.
The guards dispersed and Tromell walked straight up to Yuna. "So sorry to make you wait Lady Yuna...I-I just had to get some things in order...I rushed out when I heard you were here!" His voice, slowed with age, showed the slightest sign of nervousness. Or... fear? Tidus eyebrows raised in suspicion. He was never good at reading other people's emotions, especially when a guy like Auron had a hand in his upbringing. Although you'd have to be asleep not to catch that.
Yuna coughed a bit to clear her throat. "Sir Tromell. It's nice to meet you again," she smiled, though a fake one. "As you may already know..."
Tromell suddenly burst out shouting. "I-I don't know anything Lady Yuna! D-DON'T ACCUSE ME OF ANYTHING!"
Yuna stepped back, startled. "But..."
One of the guards gave Tromell a look, causing him to calm down a little. He turned to face Yuna again. *Ahem* "Please, continue..."
Yuna, was weirded out by his display, and it showed. "I... was just wondering if you knew anything about the assassination attempt last week. Any information we can get would be very helpful, and be very much appreciated."
"I really don't know anything, and I didn't do it!" He said this last part while looking at the doorman from earlier. The doorman scowled at Tromell, trying to get him to stop looking.
Yuna still tried to be rational. "I never said you did, it's just that when Lulu and Wakka visited Guadosalam last time, the people were..."
"Oh, that's because I told them to!"
Yuna was puzzled. "Told them to...what?"
Tromell realized his mistake, his face drooping. "Uh...don't mind me. You see, old age is getting to me...." he laughed a bit nervously after he said this. "If only Seymour were still here..." he said, under his breath.
Yuna's brows slightly furrowed in annoyance. "This has nothing to do with Seymour, Sir Tromell. Tell me what you know. Please."
"This has *everything* to do with Seymour! Y-You wouldn't understand! You...you...murderers!!!!" Yuna recoiled at Tromell's display of rage.
Without saying, this comment had Yuna's guardians surrounding her in a second. Tromell would have gone after Yuna, but three of his guards held him back. The Guado doorman came up to Yuna, putting his hand on her shoulder, much to Tidus' chagrin. "Grand Maestress, I'm sorry for his behavior..."
Tidus rushed out suddenly to give the Guado a good sock to the jaw, sending him to the ground. "Don't you DARE lay a hand on her!"
Yuna was confused even more. "Tidus?! What's going on?!"
Tidus calmed down a bit, staring down at the Guado currently rubbing his sore jaw. "I knew there was something fishy about the guy at the start...
Yuna clutched at Tidus' bright yellow jacket. " Is he... someone you know?"
"Yuna, this is the guy that shot at you that day."
Yuna covered her mouth, taking in a sharp intake of breath. In front of them, Tromell had gotten free of his guards' grasp and was currently wearing a sly smile on his Guado face. "You may know now, but I'm NOT letting you out of Guadosalam alive!" He raised his arm into the air, indicating his guards to get into battle position.
"So that's how you want it..." Tidus pulled out his sword, getting into battle position himself. Rikku, Kimahri and Wakka soon came up beside him, creating a protective shield around Yuna.
"FOR SEYMOUR----!!!" Tromell raised his hand up in the air, multicasting a powerful Thundaga spell. The party waited for the electric shocks to come down upon them, but heard instead the shrieks of Tromell's electrified henchmen. Apparently, their Auto-Potion ability didn't work too well against so strong a spell. Tromell looked around at his work. "Oops?" Then, to his opponents. "Oh...no..."
Rikku ran up swiftly to Tromell, executing a perfect Mug.
[You received Dark Matter x 3!]
"All right!" Rikku exclaimed, bouncing back to position. "...Huh?!"
Tromell was down for the count after Rikku's attack, complete with the stars floating above his head.
Tidus put his sword away. "Now that...was sad."
Wakka shook his head. "I agree brudda."
Rikku, on the other hand was fuming. "WHAT WAS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!?!"
The boys ran behind Yuna to hide from Rikku's wrath. Yuna was a bit flustered. "Now don't bring me into this!!!"
**************
After alerting the Guado authorities, Tromell and his henchmen were taken away, and the party was headed out of Guadosalam, and back to Besaid.
Rikku stretched her arms out. "Wow. And here I thought it was New Yevon who was after you!"
"Yeah. I guess they only mean well..." Yuna said thoughtfully.
Wakka grinned. "Who knew that Tromell would go all out like that? What a kooky guy."
Tidus, tagging behind the rest of the group, spoke up. "Uh, guys? Is it ok if we stop by the Farplane before we go home?"
Yuna smiled. "Of course it is." It was a place she never visited in the two years Tidus had been gone, for fear of seeing that he was actually dead. But now that he was here... it wouldn't hurt to see her loved ones again.
"I'll be staying outside though," Rikku said as a matter of factly. "Just to let you know."
"Kimahri want to go and get Guado potions." Kimahri said out of nowhere. "Just in case."
**************
Tidus felt weird stepping into the Farplane this time, since he'd seen the other side already. He didn't know who he wanted to see, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he just had an urge to come here. The misty clouds and pyreflies swirled tumultuously as Wakka and Yuna called up their loved ones. "I guess I could think of the old man...wonder how he's doing?"
He looked up to see Jecht materialized right in front of him.
Tidus waved. "Hey, old man."
"Hey there yourself son." Jecht said in his gruff voice, and grinned.
"Wha-Wha-wha..." Tidus really wasn't expecting him to talk back...
"Geez, now don't get all worked up in front of yer old man, ok? Just sayin' hi is all..." Jecht appeared to be talking to someone behind him. "OH! So that's how it is!" He laughed. "Auron tells me here that I'm not supposed to be able to talk to you, what's up with that?!"
"Must be because I've been over there already, you think?" Tidus said, still a bit surprised.
"Yup. That's what Braska over there says." Jecht pointed over to where Yuna was. Braska smiled and waved to Tidus.
Tidus rubbed his eyes; things were getting weirder by the second.
"So, son, how's it going with little Yuna? Auron tells me you're quite the couple, hmmm?" Jecht made kissy faces at his son.
"Hey. That's none of your business."
"Aww...come on! I'm your DAD!"
"Still!"
"What?!"
"Shut up."
"What did you say boy?!" Jecht flared up in anger.
Braska came over from where Yuna was to interrupt the two. He laughed at their argument. "No fighting you two. From what I've heard, Yuna's FINE. Just take care of her for me, ok Tidus? And... make her happy. Her mother and I send her our love."
"Yes, Sir Braska! I'll do my best!" He bowed deeply to him, and looked up. "And um... thanks again for sending me back to Spira, I really owe you one."
Yuna came from behind Tidus, looking a little confused. "My dad just disappeared suddenly! It's never happened...before--?" She looked up to see Braska standing next to Jecht in front of Tidus. "Wait. How did he get over here?"
"Uh, well you see, he came over to *talk* to me, if you can believe that..."
"You can talk to them?! Wow..." Yuna looked up at the figures in awe. "I wonder how Sir Auron is doing...?"
Auron appeared in front of both of them, and locked eyes with Tidus. "Tell her I'm fine." A hint of a smile could be seen under his thick collar.
***************
The group eventually made their way back to Besaid, where Wakka immediately went to find Lulu, to see his son and tell her the good news. Rikku went off to tinker with her new project, and Kimahri was about to just keep watch over Yuna for the time being, but seeing as Tidus was already doing just that, he decided to just take a relaxing nap in the shade. This left Tidus and Yuna alone together, something that didn't happen too often ever since Tidus had come back from the Farplane.
Yuna, finding that she didn't have anything she had to do (except some paperwork), turned to Tidus. "Think you could help me with Blitzball today? I kinda feel like going for a swim."
"Sure. I'll go get the Blitzball." Tidus grinned.
Yuna brushed aside the curtain and walked into the hut to get changed, Tidus in tow. He watched as she opened the door and disappeared into her room. But before she had a chance to close the door, Tidus impulsively ran over and pushed against it. Yuna's eyes appeared in the crack of the door, showing her surprise.
"I'm sorry, but...can we talk?" Tidus asked apologetically.
Yuna opened the door slowly. She could tell something was bothering him. "Sure, come in." She smiled gently.
Tidus walked in and put his gloved hands on her bare shoulders. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His expression showed that he was a little unsure of himself.
Yuna put her hand up to his face. "Come on, you know you can tell me anything..."
Tidus moved his hands from off her shoulders to around her waist to embrace her, his head resting on her right shoulder. "I'm sorry that I made you sad while I was gone," he whispered into her ear, "Forgive me? I didn't mean to hurt you," his voice shook as tears threatened to come from his eyes.
"Of course I'll forgive you. But what's going on? You used to be so carefree about everything..."
Tidus raised his eyes to hers. "Well, for one, I care about a lot more things these days," he said, his voice becoming deep. He looked down at her lips and claimed them in a passionate kiss.
After a few moments, Tidus broke away, leaving Yuna breathless, and his forehead resting on hers. "I...I'll never break your heart again."
"I believe you," Yuna whispered, and tilted her face upwards to catch his lips once more. The two lovers passionately kissed more, but just as they were getting into it...
"YUUUUUUUNA! Could ya help Lulu for a sec?!" It was Wakka's voice.
Yuna broke off the kiss, and opened her eyes. "Sorry," she giggled. "Duty calls."
Tidus unwrapped his arms from around her waist, releasing her. "One last question before you go?"
Yuna nodded. "Anything."
"Do you think I'd make a good father? I mean, considering the grade A parenting I got..." His thoughts wandered back to how uncomfortable he felt holding infants in the past.
Yuna walked further out toward the door and opened it a little. "Hmm..." she looked pensive for a moment. And smiled before saying,
"Look at how well you take care of me..."
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Author's notes:
I'm back! (again) Summer has made me so lazy, it's unbelievable. A BIG thanks to Th' Lady Shadow for getting the creative ball rolling on this chapter with some great suggestions. So, thanks again! I really appreciate it.
I always imagined Tromell as a bumbling old idiot, so if that's how he came across in this chapter, I've succeeded! :-) Plus, he sounds a lot like my old Physics professor. Bad memories, indeed. Oh, and wondering about my Japanese blurb up there? It's the actual name Square gave the Blitzballs they were selling! (Bah. Too bad they're sold out now...) Literal translation: "It's summer! It's the ocean! Blitzball!"
I'm gonna be moving everything (including the computer) out to a brand spankin' new apartment in LA in a few days, so don't expect the next chapter too soon... (not that any of the others have come quickly...sorry!) But I'll still be thinking of how to continue this, so send comments, suggestions , constructive criticism, whatever! I love every review I get. :-) Did I mention send suggestions? Haha. Till next time!~
