Battles we've Fought
Chapter 8:
Yuna watched with curiosity, she could tell that her guardians were not pleased with this Fayth. Tea in hand she sat quietly, waiting to see what would happen.
Auron walked into the chamber, pausing half way between the entrance and the living stone of the Fayth. With a grunt he turned his massive blade and placed it carefully, tip down, into the dirt floor. He reached up with his left hand and moved his sunglasses down, giving the spirit an unobstructed view of his one good eye. Tidus waited at the entrance, ready to give his mentor a helping hand and yet unsure of his welcome here. The legendary guardian looked from the floating man to his summoner.
"You bring me more to speak with, Summoner Yuna?" asked the male spirit. "Should I get more cups for tea?"
"No." stated the warrior-monk. "I believe you wish to bargain for your.services?" The bare left hand settled on the pommel of the great sword, a clear indication that Sir Auron was ready and quite willing to use the weapon.
Yuna watched on, sipping the rapidly cooling tea. With concern she shot Tidus a glance, then looked significantly back at Auron. The young blitzer, used to silent communication from the Blitzball field moved quietly to her command. The blonde jock was soon standing beside the man in red. Auron only gained a stronger hold on his blade, his single eyed gaze not moving from the Fayth before them.
"It is not my custom to haggle for things, Fayth. And it is only due to my training that I have not outright dealt with you with my weapon."
"Strong words, Sir Auron." The Fayth stepped down from his stone perch. "But I do not have business with a guardian, only with the summoner." The spirit turned to Yuna and bowed. "Does this mean you will pay for my help?"
Yuna looked at Auron and seeing a slight nod from the elder warrior, she turned to speak to the Fayth. "We are willing and able to meet your price of 100,000 gil."
The Fayth frowned, "Ah, but your guardians have offended me, the price is now doubled. I will only work with these boorish men for 200,000 gil." The Fayth crossed his arms and settled back.
Auron seemed to stand as still as the stone beneath the floating spirit, Tidus however noticed the man's jaw clench and the right gloved hand tighten upon the blade. Yuna stood and bowed to the greedy spirit. With her hands raised in a gesture of peacekeeping she moved to stand before Auron and Tidus, blocking any move they may have wanted to make. "If my guardians offend you then I apologize for your inconvenience. However, they are only, as a proper guardian should, protecting their summoner. I will not allow them to excuse what they are here to do. We shall go on without your help. Thank you for your hospitality." That said she moved to the entrance. She slowed to a stop as male voices continued behind her.
"So, you would allow her to go without a most powerful weapon? What manner of legend are you?" The spirit settled over his carved stone crypt.
"One who follows his summoner in all things" came the curt reply.
The Fayth sighed. "You are not typical of the type that make it to me here." His eyes narrowed as he scanned the two warriors before him. "No, there is a power about you, a destiny is wrapped between you." The Fayth reached down to pat his ethereal canine, a gesture that betrayed the beings emotions. This spirit was shocked, and non too pleased about it. "You," he started again, pointing at Tidus, "honestly believe that you can defeat the greatest summon of all time? You would kill sin?" He shook his head and looked back at Auron, "And just how many ghosts are there in that kimono? How many spirits do you share yourself with? You are a walking memory, a ghost that has not realized its uselessness."
Yuna's eyes widened at the statements placed before her guardians. They seemed to make a sad amount of sense, and that scared her. She turned at the entrance, taking up where Tidus has watched over her at the beginning of this encounter.
"Do you wish to be given any gil at all?" growled the warrior-monk, temper on a choking tight leash.
"Yes, I think I do, But I will only take half of what you have. You may just be the key to my freedom, to my return to the way of the living."
"Which ~half~ of my blade to want?" challenged the young blitzballer. "I recommend the barbed side, so I can take longer to pull it out."
"STAND DOWN!" barked Auron; the control on his rage frayed enough to roughen his commanding baritone to a deep growl. His left hand, bared and only covered with the bracer he had purchased in the Calm Lands, landed on the youth's shoulder. The only indication of the strength of his grip being the whiteness of the knuckles. Tidus seemed unfeeling of the crushing grip, but did not move.
"Ah I see who is the better man here. Wisdom does seem to come with experience, does it not?" the Fayth floated down, as if it was walking an invisible ramp to hover before the two tensed guardians. "What is your answer, Sir Auron? Will you give me gil and watch me protect your precious summoner or will you let me stay here, to be attached to another, and perhaps give Spira another Calm." The spirit watched the eye of the elder guardian, seeing the pain and guilt that floated like oil upon the water of rage. "So be it." Auron's words were ground through clenched teeth, and tight jaw. "What is the final amount necessary for you to aid my summoner?"
"I will stand by the original offer: 100,000 gil." The spirit held out his ghostly hand, it seemed to gain substance across the palm and fingers.
Auron released Tidus and reached for the money pouch inside his kimono. The clink of medicine bottles and potions softly sang from the rummaging hand, with no fan fare, the red-robed warrior pulled out a smallish bag of light tan leather. He rested the bag on the upturned hilt and proceeded to count out a small amount. The pitifully few coins returned to the pocket with the potions. The rest, mostly filling the bag still, was placed on the palm of the spirit. With a nod the spirit floated back to the stone, there waiting was his dog. A small toss, a slobbery catch and the money was hidden in the stone. The Fayth looked up to see the young summoner at the back, unmoved since she left his presence to make some sort of point. The spirit motioned to her, and gestured for the guardians to leave. Yuna looked at Tidus and Auron, the two had determined faces and tensed muscles, ready and wiling to throw down at her slightest command. Tidus had his game face on, blazing blue eyes flared from his tanned face, his teeth slightly bared in a feral look. Yuna motioned them to the back, not feeling a need for their protection. Auron moved his sword to it's ready position on his right shoulder, a gravely humph the only sound he made. Tidus stood his ground, behind his summoner, Avenger at the ready and feet planted in the sandy ground. No one was going to move him from this spot, not Auron, not this offensive mockery of a spirit or Yuna herself. The older guardian shrugged, he understood the protectiveness, the need to stand by her side. He had felt that once, and it still burned that he had failed. Sighing he walked back to the entrance and through it to the darker chamber beyond. He rubbed the back of his neck, anger having knotted up every major muscle from his forehead to the center of his back. Auron settled down on the sandy ground near the transport stone and waited, if he was needed he would be near enough. The warrior-monk closed his eyes, touching with his thoughts the little place he knew his true companions rested; he felt Braska's spirit near.
"It seems that our young Yuna is getting more powerful by the day, my friend, it must be your influence." The once High Summoner's voice was patient and pleased.
"May that be, I don't know. But you and Jecht wanted me to give them every chance. Well, this is certainly something we missed the last time." Auron whispered back, talking so that he would not be thought completely insane if Tidus and Yuna walked out unexpectedly sooner than he planed. "Did you even know about this Yojimbo?"
"No, Auron. I did not." The mental voice was thoughtful. Braska did not like being surprised with information he did not have.
"Well, then. Looks like your daughter's already a step ahead from us."
The inner voice of Braska chuckled. "I see you're near a temple again. It's very easy to feel your presence."
"Funny you should mention that, my lord. I'm nowhere near a temple, just a lost stone of a Fayth. Could that be the reason for our connections? A Fayth?"
"More than likely, all the Fayth perhaps. Our connection is unique, I'm pretty sure. But then, why look a gift Chocobo in the beak, eh?"
Auron chuckled out loud and looked about guiltily. He only saw the silent form of Kimahri waiting at the entrance, the lion-man's eyes looking at the old guardian with only mild curiosity.
Tidus watched as the Spirit of Yojimbo floated into Yuna. He gripped his sword as she gasped and fell to her knees. He took an involuntary step closer to his summoner; worry flooding his body with adrenaline. Around him, the torches of the cave began to fail, gutter and smoke as if they had all abruptly lost all their fuel. Yuna knelt and sweat formed on her face. The Living statue, covered in its mystical bindings started to glow, replacing the smoking brazier light with its crimson hue. A soft whispering voice echoed through the cave.
"It is done."
Like a puppet with its strings cut, the young summoner dropped to her hands and rolled lifeless to the sandy ground.
"YUNA!" Tidus shouted as moved to her side, his weapon dropped to the ground beside him. Shaking, he gathered her up in his arms and turned to leave the cave.
:: Shit! :: thought Auron, snapping to full attention at the sound of Tidus' scream. The warrior bolted to his feet, and then promptly swayed. Kimahri moved to stand at the door, lance held at the ready. When Auron did not immediately join the Ronso warrior, the blue furred guardian turned to look at the older guardian. Auron was shaking, holding his head for a second; a single point of moaning light flew from the red kimono. Kimahri's ears flattened for a moment and then turned his attention back to the entrance. Auron shook off a strange light-headedness and ran for the entrance to make up the time lost. He was met at the door by the young blitzballer and his summoner. Yuna was out of it, as she usually seemed to be after gaining an Aeon. The legendary guardian allowed his sword to rest upon his shoulder with a weary sigh. Tenderly he reached up to Yuna's face with his left hand and checked her temperature as he wiped away the perspiration from her forehead. Tidus looked on, worry and frustration warring on his open face. "Don't worry, she'll be alright." Auron murmured to the young man. The warrior-monk gathered his loose left sleeve and settled it back on his shoulder. With a grunt he replaced the blade into its sheath on his back. "Do you want me to carry her?" He asked calmly.
Tidus shook his head, "No, that's not necessary. Can you get my sword though? I left it." He tossed his head over his right shoulder, back into the reddish glow of the Lost Fayth's Chamber. Auron nodded and headed back into the now lifeless cave. Kimahri watched as the three parted ways. Tidus and his young burden seemed to be fine and Wakka would be at the other end, tending to Lulu. That left the Ronso free to walk into the chamber after Auron. Putting action to thoughts the man- beast ambled into the smoky cave. He watched as the red-robed swordsman bent to retrieve the weapon Tidus and left in his worry. Kimahri nodded to himself as the older man swayed again righting himself. He moved quickly across the chamber to stand at the struggling man's side.
"What is wrong with this place that you would loose yourself?" asked the bass voice of the cat-man.
Auron started, his mind focused on trying to stay upright. Something was wrong, and he had no chance in the mental state he was in to figure it out. "Kimahri?" he mumbled.
"Yes. What is wrong?" the Ronso repeated himself.
"I'm . confused." Kimahri looked at the warrior, a sheen of cold sweat had settled upon the man's fore head. Auron looked about him like a man lost and began to stumble toward the stone. "I just need to sit down for a moment, Kimahri." Auron began and lost his footing. The Ronso watched with interest as the warrior-monk flopped onto the boarder stones of the actual stone of the Fayth.
"GET UP! FOR THE LOVE OF YEVON, AURON, GE T UP!" Braska shouted in his mental ear. Auron fought hard to stay conscious, a strange lassitude flooding his mortal shell of a body, his mind fogged in cobwebs.
In a large field of red flowers, with in a small Spartan hut, a man was shaking the sleeping form of a warrior-monk. Braska's shaking met with more and more resistance, it seemed as if the spirit of his friend was making the leap home. He shouted at the body, cursed it with all the foul language Jecht had used over the last 11 years. Now was not the time, it was nearly over.
Kimahri moved over to the unmoving form of his friend, with some alarm he noticed more pyreflies escaping from under the voluminous red kimono. It was strange to remember that Auron had already passed the air bridge to the Farplane once, that this was mostly a shell of a very determined spirit. At a loss of what to do, the Ronso carefully picked up the kimono-clad man and moved away from the living statue in the center of the cave. Absently, Kimahri grabbed Tidus' sword as well.
Braska looked on in shock as first the eyes opened and then a deep breath was heard from the form of his close companion. This was not like the time before, the nearly fatal fever and delirium had felt abrupt, impermanent. This had the feel of someone finally wakening from a deep coma; it was as real as anything else in the Farplane. "Auron?" he asked. Hoping, praying to a deity he no longer served that the relining form before him would not answer.
Kimahri moved slowly away from the chamber, away from the red glow of the powered stone and the smoke of the guttering torches. In his arms, the almost lifeless body of Auron moaned. The Ronso had to strain to make out what his burden was trying to say.
"Sleep. death. stop this."
Braska shuddered as the man before him replied. Then he repeated what he had heard. Auron was trying to tell him how to deal with the situation. With a silent prayer to whatever god or spirit was listening, Braska quickly cast a sleep spell on the wakening warrior.
"Yesssss.." Hissed the two Auron's. One slowly regaining strength, the other losing himself in a deep sleep. Kimahri watched with worry and confusion as the eyes of his friend fluttered.
In a hut, far into the realm of the dead, a summoner-mage thanked the stars above that the only thing he had to a brother fell back into a sleep from which he should not awaken.
The morning saw the party gathered in the entrance to the caves where the Stolen Fayth was hidden. Kimahri greeted the rising sun, stretching from the long night of watching over the group. Auron, seemingly fine after the incidents of the previous evening, was up and out of the cave. Tidus had not let Yuna go all night and they were still cuddled around each other. Wakka, Lulu and Rikku had made the campsite and were still taking advantage of the shelter of stone; all were asleep. Kimahri moved away from the cave mouth and looked out over the paths and cliffs of the extreme east of the Calm Lands. Auron was walking back toward the cave, something in his hands that glinted in spots, apparently made of metal. The legendary guardian had gotten up from his near miss with the Farplane and had taken himself out of the cave to walk it all off. His feet had found him near a monument for some guardian or another. It was something he disliked seeing where ever they went, but it was particularly poignant now. The best he could figure, with Braska's help, was that the Stolen Fayth was somehow connected to the powers of life or death. Its natural state was enough for Auron and Braska's communication to flow with out effort. With the binding to a summoner, a rather powerful one at that, had increased the effect exponentially. Possibly causing the constant pulling of the Farplane to be enhanced. Auron was unable to stop the leap, the awakening of his true self in the Farplane. Only distance and magic on the other side had kept him with his current summoner. As he thought, pondered and theorized, his attention was caught by a small gleam in the rising sun. Buried more than halfway the length of the blade was a lost guardian's sword. It was rusted, battered and defiantly old; Auron could not help but compare himself to the brownish red weapon. In a fit of melancholy, he grabbed the old sword, perhaps with some work it could be made into a fine weapon for the group. It was this sword, the bare blade that had hidden far enough underground to miss the rain and elements, that Kimahri witnessed as Auron walked up to the cave. The Ronso looked at the older guardian and perked an ear in the man's direction, the feline version of quirking an eyebrow. The red robed warrior-monk shared a look with the blue-furred Ronso warrior.
"I'm back, let's go." Auron stated, gathering up his packs as he spoke.
Kimahri nodded and wondered if his strange friend would ever make any sense.
Yuna watched with curiosity, she could tell that her guardians were not pleased with this Fayth. Tea in hand she sat quietly, waiting to see what would happen.
Auron walked into the chamber, pausing half way between the entrance and the living stone of the Fayth. With a grunt he turned his massive blade and placed it carefully, tip down, into the dirt floor. He reached up with his left hand and moved his sunglasses down, giving the spirit an unobstructed view of his one good eye. Tidus waited at the entrance, ready to give his mentor a helping hand and yet unsure of his welcome here. The legendary guardian looked from the floating man to his summoner.
"You bring me more to speak with, Summoner Yuna?" asked the male spirit. "Should I get more cups for tea?"
"No." stated the warrior-monk. "I believe you wish to bargain for your.services?" The bare left hand settled on the pommel of the great sword, a clear indication that Sir Auron was ready and quite willing to use the weapon.
Yuna watched on, sipping the rapidly cooling tea. With concern she shot Tidus a glance, then looked significantly back at Auron. The young blitzer, used to silent communication from the Blitzball field moved quietly to her command. The blonde jock was soon standing beside the man in red. Auron only gained a stronger hold on his blade, his single eyed gaze not moving from the Fayth before them.
"It is not my custom to haggle for things, Fayth. And it is only due to my training that I have not outright dealt with you with my weapon."
"Strong words, Sir Auron." The Fayth stepped down from his stone perch. "But I do not have business with a guardian, only with the summoner." The spirit turned to Yuna and bowed. "Does this mean you will pay for my help?"
Yuna looked at Auron and seeing a slight nod from the elder warrior, she turned to speak to the Fayth. "We are willing and able to meet your price of 100,000 gil."
The Fayth frowned, "Ah, but your guardians have offended me, the price is now doubled. I will only work with these boorish men for 200,000 gil." The Fayth crossed his arms and settled back.
Auron seemed to stand as still as the stone beneath the floating spirit, Tidus however noticed the man's jaw clench and the right gloved hand tighten upon the blade. Yuna stood and bowed to the greedy spirit. With her hands raised in a gesture of peacekeeping she moved to stand before Auron and Tidus, blocking any move they may have wanted to make. "If my guardians offend you then I apologize for your inconvenience. However, they are only, as a proper guardian should, protecting their summoner. I will not allow them to excuse what they are here to do. We shall go on without your help. Thank you for your hospitality." That said she moved to the entrance. She slowed to a stop as male voices continued behind her.
"So, you would allow her to go without a most powerful weapon? What manner of legend are you?" The spirit settled over his carved stone crypt.
"One who follows his summoner in all things" came the curt reply.
The Fayth sighed. "You are not typical of the type that make it to me here." His eyes narrowed as he scanned the two warriors before him. "No, there is a power about you, a destiny is wrapped between you." The Fayth reached down to pat his ethereal canine, a gesture that betrayed the beings emotions. This spirit was shocked, and non too pleased about it. "You," he started again, pointing at Tidus, "honestly believe that you can defeat the greatest summon of all time? You would kill sin?" He shook his head and looked back at Auron, "And just how many ghosts are there in that kimono? How many spirits do you share yourself with? You are a walking memory, a ghost that has not realized its uselessness."
Yuna's eyes widened at the statements placed before her guardians. They seemed to make a sad amount of sense, and that scared her. She turned at the entrance, taking up where Tidus has watched over her at the beginning of this encounter.
"Do you wish to be given any gil at all?" growled the warrior-monk, temper on a choking tight leash.
"Yes, I think I do, But I will only take half of what you have. You may just be the key to my freedom, to my return to the way of the living."
"Which ~half~ of my blade to want?" challenged the young blitzballer. "I recommend the barbed side, so I can take longer to pull it out."
"STAND DOWN!" barked Auron; the control on his rage frayed enough to roughen his commanding baritone to a deep growl. His left hand, bared and only covered with the bracer he had purchased in the Calm Lands, landed on the youth's shoulder. The only indication of the strength of his grip being the whiteness of the knuckles. Tidus seemed unfeeling of the crushing grip, but did not move.
"Ah I see who is the better man here. Wisdom does seem to come with experience, does it not?" the Fayth floated down, as if it was walking an invisible ramp to hover before the two tensed guardians. "What is your answer, Sir Auron? Will you give me gil and watch me protect your precious summoner or will you let me stay here, to be attached to another, and perhaps give Spira another Calm." The spirit watched the eye of the elder guardian, seeing the pain and guilt that floated like oil upon the water of rage. "So be it." Auron's words were ground through clenched teeth, and tight jaw. "What is the final amount necessary for you to aid my summoner?"
"I will stand by the original offer: 100,000 gil." The spirit held out his ghostly hand, it seemed to gain substance across the palm and fingers.
Auron released Tidus and reached for the money pouch inside his kimono. The clink of medicine bottles and potions softly sang from the rummaging hand, with no fan fare, the red-robed warrior pulled out a smallish bag of light tan leather. He rested the bag on the upturned hilt and proceeded to count out a small amount. The pitifully few coins returned to the pocket with the potions. The rest, mostly filling the bag still, was placed on the palm of the spirit. With a nod the spirit floated back to the stone, there waiting was his dog. A small toss, a slobbery catch and the money was hidden in the stone. The Fayth looked up to see the young summoner at the back, unmoved since she left his presence to make some sort of point. The spirit motioned to her, and gestured for the guardians to leave. Yuna looked at Tidus and Auron, the two had determined faces and tensed muscles, ready and wiling to throw down at her slightest command. Tidus had his game face on, blazing blue eyes flared from his tanned face, his teeth slightly bared in a feral look. Yuna motioned them to the back, not feeling a need for their protection. Auron moved his sword to it's ready position on his right shoulder, a gravely humph the only sound he made. Tidus stood his ground, behind his summoner, Avenger at the ready and feet planted in the sandy ground. No one was going to move him from this spot, not Auron, not this offensive mockery of a spirit or Yuna herself. The older guardian shrugged, he understood the protectiveness, the need to stand by her side. He had felt that once, and it still burned that he had failed. Sighing he walked back to the entrance and through it to the darker chamber beyond. He rubbed the back of his neck, anger having knotted up every major muscle from his forehead to the center of his back. Auron settled down on the sandy ground near the transport stone and waited, if he was needed he would be near enough. The warrior-monk closed his eyes, touching with his thoughts the little place he knew his true companions rested; he felt Braska's spirit near.
"It seems that our young Yuna is getting more powerful by the day, my friend, it must be your influence." The once High Summoner's voice was patient and pleased.
"May that be, I don't know. But you and Jecht wanted me to give them every chance. Well, this is certainly something we missed the last time." Auron whispered back, talking so that he would not be thought completely insane if Tidus and Yuna walked out unexpectedly sooner than he planed. "Did you even know about this Yojimbo?"
"No, Auron. I did not." The mental voice was thoughtful. Braska did not like being surprised with information he did not have.
"Well, then. Looks like your daughter's already a step ahead from us."
The inner voice of Braska chuckled. "I see you're near a temple again. It's very easy to feel your presence."
"Funny you should mention that, my lord. I'm nowhere near a temple, just a lost stone of a Fayth. Could that be the reason for our connections? A Fayth?"
"More than likely, all the Fayth perhaps. Our connection is unique, I'm pretty sure. But then, why look a gift Chocobo in the beak, eh?"
Auron chuckled out loud and looked about guiltily. He only saw the silent form of Kimahri waiting at the entrance, the lion-man's eyes looking at the old guardian with only mild curiosity.
Tidus watched as the Spirit of Yojimbo floated into Yuna. He gripped his sword as she gasped and fell to her knees. He took an involuntary step closer to his summoner; worry flooding his body with adrenaline. Around him, the torches of the cave began to fail, gutter and smoke as if they had all abruptly lost all their fuel. Yuna knelt and sweat formed on her face. The Living statue, covered in its mystical bindings started to glow, replacing the smoking brazier light with its crimson hue. A soft whispering voice echoed through the cave.
"It is done."
Like a puppet with its strings cut, the young summoner dropped to her hands and rolled lifeless to the sandy ground.
"YUNA!" Tidus shouted as moved to her side, his weapon dropped to the ground beside him. Shaking, he gathered her up in his arms and turned to leave the cave.
:: Shit! :: thought Auron, snapping to full attention at the sound of Tidus' scream. The warrior bolted to his feet, and then promptly swayed. Kimahri moved to stand at the door, lance held at the ready. When Auron did not immediately join the Ronso warrior, the blue furred guardian turned to look at the older guardian. Auron was shaking, holding his head for a second; a single point of moaning light flew from the red kimono. Kimahri's ears flattened for a moment and then turned his attention back to the entrance. Auron shook off a strange light-headedness and ran for the entrance to make up the time lost. He was met at the door by the young blitzballer and his summoner. Yuna was out of it, as she usually seemed to be after gaining an Aeon. The legendary guardian allowed his sword to rest upon his shoulder with a weary sigh. Tenderly he reached up to Yuna's face with his left hand and checked her temperature as he wiped away the perspiration from her forehead. Tidus looked on, worry and frustration warring on his open face. "Don't worry, she'll be alright." Auron murmured to the young man. The warrior-monk gathered his loose left sleeve and settled it back on his shoulder. With a grunt he replaced the blade into its sheath on his back. "Do you want me to carry her?" He asked calmly.
Tidus shook his head, "No, that's not necessary. Can you get my sword though? I left it." He tossed his head over his right shoulder, back into the reddish glow of the Lost Fayth's Chamber. Auron nodded and headed back into the now lifeless cave. Kimahri watched as the three parted ways. Tidus and his young burden seemed to be fine and Wakka would be at the other end, tending to Lulu. That left the Ronso free to walk into the chamber after Auron. Putting action to thoughts the man- beast ambled into the smoky cave. He watched as the red-robed swordsman bent to retrieve the weapon Tidus and left in his worry. Kimahri nodded to himself as the older man swayed again righting himself. He moved quickly across the chamber to stand at the struggling man's side.
"What is wrong with this place that you would loose yourself?" asked the bass voice of the cat-man.
Auron started, his mind focused on trying to stay upright. Something was wrong, and he had no chance in the mental state he was in to figure it out. "Kimahri?" he mumbled.
"Yes. What is wrong?" the Ronso repeated himself.
"I'm . confused." Kimahri looked at the warrior, a sheen of cold sweat had settled upon the man's fore head. Auron looked about him like a man lost and began to stumble toward the stone. "I just need to sit down for a moment, Kimahri." Auron began and lost his footing. The Ronso watched with interest as the warrior-monk flopped onto the boarder stones of the actual stone of the Fayth.
"GET UP! FOR THE LOVE OF YEVON, AURON, GE T UP!" Braska shouted in his mental ear. Auron fought hard to stay conscious, a strange lassitude flooding his mortal shell of a body, his mind fogged in cobwebs.
In a large field of red flowers, with in a small Spartan hut, a man was shaking the sleeping form of a warrior-monk. Braska's shaking met with more and more resistance, it seemed as if the spirit of his friend was making the leap home. He shouted at the body, cursed it with all the foul language Jecht had used over the last 11 years. Now was not the time, it was nearly over.
Kimahri moved over to the unmoving form of his friend, with some alarm he noticed more pyreflies escaping from under the voluminous red kimono. It was strange to remember that Auron had already passed the air bridge to the Farplane once, that this was mostly a shell of a very determined spirit. At a loss of what to do, the Ronso carefully picked up the kimono-clad man and moved away from the living statue in the center of the cave. Absently, Kimahri grabbed Tidus' sword as well.
Braska looked on in shock as first the eyes opened and then a deep breath was heard from the form of his close companion. This was not like the time before, the nearly fatal fever and delirium had felt abrupt, impermanent. This had the feel of someone finally wakening from a deep coma; it was as real as anything else in the Farplane. "Auron?" he asked. Hoping, praying to a deity he no longer served that the relining form before him would not answer.
Kimahri moved slowly away from the chamber, away from the red glow of the powered stone and the smoke of the guttering torches. In his arms, the almost lifeless body of Auron moaned. The Ronso had to strain to make out what his burden was trying to say.
"Sleep. death. stop this."
Braska shuddered as the man before him replied. Then he repeated what he had heard. Auron was trying to tell him how to deal with the situation. With a silent prayer to whatever god or spirit was listening, Braska quickly cast a sleep spell on the wakening warrior.
"Yesssss.." Hissed the two Auron's. One slowly regaining strength, the other losing himself in a deep sleep. Kimahri watched with worry and confusion as the eyes of his friend fluttered.
In a hut, far into the realm of the dead, a summoner-mage thanked the stars above that the only thing he had to a brother fell back into a sleep from which he should not awaken.
The morning saw the party gathered in the entrance to the caves where the Stolen Fayth was hidden. Kimahri greeted the rising sun, stretching from the long night of watching over the group. Auron, seemingly fine after the incidents of the previous evening, was up and out of the cave. Tidus had not let Yuna go all night and they were still cuddled around each other. Wakka, Lulu and Rikku had made the campsite and were still taking advantage of the shelter of stone; all were asleep. Kimahri moved away from the cave mouth and looked out over the paths and cliffs of the extreme east of the Calm Lands. Auron was walking back toward the cave, something in his hands that glinted in spots, apparently made of metal. The legendary guardian had gotten up from his near miss with the Farplane and had taken himself out of the cave to walk it all off. His feet had found him near a monument for some guardian or another. It was something he disliked seeing where ever they went, but it was particularly poignant now. The best he could figure, with Braska's help, was that the Stolen Fayth was somehow connected to the powers of life or death. Its natural state was enough for Auron and Braska's communication to flow with out effort. With the binding to a summoner, a rather powerful one at that, had increased the effect exponentially. Possibly causing the constant pulling of the Farplane to be enhanced. Auron was unable to stop the leap, the awakening of his true self in the Farplane. Only distance and magic on the other side had kept him with his current summoner. As he thought, pondered and theorized, his attention was caught by a small gleam in the rising sun. Buried more than halfway the length of the blade was a lost guardian's sword. It was rusted, battered and defiantly old; Auron could not help but compare himself to the brownish red weapon. In a fit of melancholy, he grabbed the old sword, perhaps with some work it could be made into a fine weapon for the group. It was this sword, the bare blade that had hidden far enough underground to miss the rain and elements, that Kimahri witnessed as Auron walked up to the cave. The Ronso looked at the older guardian and perked an ear in the man's direction, the feline version of quirking an eyebrow. The red robed warrior-monk shared a look with the blue-furred Ronso warrior.
"I'm back, let's go." Auron stated, gathering up his packs as he spoke.
Kimahri nodded and wondered if his strange friend would ever make any sense.