©Lexiter Jackson 2003

Tears of the Fayth Chapter 2 Dreaming of the Truth

Well, I'm back with another chappie – and I have some credits and cookies to give out!

Kenji – Yeah I know! I think 'Jassu' is such a cool name, and it's the only name I could come up with that suited   him. Thank you for saying it's interesting! Have a cookie! *gives cookie to Kenji*

Eva Kasumi – Thank you!! I ain't sayin' a word on whether or not Wakka and Tidus is yet – read the fic. I should be updating at LEAST once a week. And coz you're so nice, you can have a cookie too! *grins and hands over cookie*

Right…now I've done that – oh and if you want a cookie and a mention just drop me a review! – I can get on with warnings.

As usual, I own nothing except my character and various bits of the original plot I've changed – of which there'll be a ittle ittle bit in this chapter and it grows as more are added! Merf! Oh, there will be spoilers contained within.

Warnings for this chapter – a little bit of implied sex in the beginning, nothing graphic. That's for later *winks*. Umm…oh yeah. YAOI ladies and gentlemen – male/male love. Unless you have something to say, don't even bother. If you don't like, then WHY ARE YOU READING THIS!!!

Ahem. As always, enjoy the fic, keep an open mind and if you fall asleep, then SHAME ON YOU! Er…you can come back now…

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~d-r-e-a-m-i-n-g~

Lips on his; heat pressed against heat and words exchanged without any need for human speech. Tracks made down his neck, his chest; hands buried in soft hair that he knew shone in the sunlight that streamed through the curtained window.

The warmth disappeared, replaced with an empty, gnawing pain of loss. He opened his eyes to total darkness, a hand reaching out and trying to find the other, but they had gone. He raised his hands to his face, only to find that he had both eyes.

Suddenly the darkness whirled away like smoke banished by a fresh breeze, and he was in Macalania Woods with Braska, Jecht and Auron again, facing a huge fiend, the Spherimorph. Braska had been hit; Jecht was tending to the Summoner. He turned to the Spherimorph, watching as it shifted into a spike aimed for Auron.

Without stopping to think, he leapt in the path of the spike, pushing Auron out of the way. Time seemed to stop as he faced down the Spherimorph, and in that endless instant he knew he was going to die, and he found that he was at peace. As if a question without words had been answered, time sped up again and the spike buried itself into his chest. His hand opened as he was pushed backwards, dropping Harlequin as he struggled to keep his footing. He felt the flesh ripping as the point broke through his back, and a sudden fountain of blood erupted from his mouth.

'No!' A red blur entered his vision, the huge sword of the other guardian burying itself into the spike. An unearthly scream was heard, and the Spherimorph withdrew from the fatally injured guardian and slipped back into a Sphere Pool.

He fell to his knees, blood pooling around him and staining the blue pools a deep purple. Blood trickled down from his nose and mouth as Braska tried to cure him.

'Don't...waste...your energy...My Lord...' He heard himself say as he collapsed onto his side. 'Protect...the...the...Summoner...'

His vision went black as he heard Braska begin the sending, and a feeling of peace descended on him.

~g-n-i-m-a-e-r-d~

Jassu woke up, his cheek wet from the tears. He pushed himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed and sighing. Glancing out through the window he could see that it was still very early in the morning, but he knew that no more sleep would be gained this night. He pulled on his trousers and walked to the sink in the room, splashing his face and dampening his hair. Turning around, Jassu noted that there was another in the room – the Ronso, Kimahri.

Putting his hair up, Jassu pulled his tee shirt and jacket on, wincing as the tee shirt caught on the scar on his chest. Picking up Harlequin and strapping it onto his back, Jassu made his way out of the travel agency and into the cold morning air.

Walking a little ways away, he pulled out the huge blue sword and began to warm up. Soon the jacket and scabbard was thrown onto the ground, followed by the tee shirt as the day started to warm up.

Auron had come out some time ago, intent on doing some early morning training when he spotted the other guardian doing the same. He leant against a support, watching him for a while as first the jacket, then the tee shirt ended up on the ground. Wherever he'd been for the last ten years, Jassu hadn't let up on the training. His body was still highly toned, muscled but not overly so. Neither had he forgotten the training moves from so long ago, flowing through them as if they were a dance.

Auron snorted. Of course they were a dance – a Dance of Death.

Auron paused as Jassu stopped suddenly, his back to Auron. A scar on his upper back that hadn't been there as far as he could remember greeted him, and Auron raised an eyebrow. He could remember where that came from.

Suddenly the man in question whirled, a shiny object flying from his hand. Auron sidestepped just in time as a throwing knife embedded itself where Auron's head was.

Jassu grinned as he saw Auron blink at the knife. He was glad to see that he hadn't lost any of his old skills. Auron pulled the knife out of the post, walking over to Jassu and handing it back.

'Good throw.'

'Good dodge.' Jassu grinned, quickly pushing the knife into a boot and pulling his tee shirt over the scars. Hell, the scars even disturbed him.

Suddenly a scream ripped through the air.

'The chocobos! Help!'

The rest of the group ran out of the agency as Jassu and Auron ran past.

'So where is he?' Wakka shouted above the panicked warks of the chocobos. Suddenly a crash answered him – a huge fiend, a chocobo in one hand, leapt off the top of the agency and landed on the ground, causing the earth to shake. The chocobo warked, and bit the fiend's hand, causing it to drop the bird and scream. Its mouth was full of razor sharp teeth, and it had two tongues.

Jassu fought and defeated the urge to retch as its breath washed over the party. 'Jeez, you'd think with a meat diet it would brush once in a while, no?' He pulled the blue Harlequin up to eye level. 'Auron, d' ya want to back me up here?'

Auron joined the other as the fiend squinted down at them and roared. Tidus ran in and plunged his sword into the beast, only to get swatted away by one of its hands. Auron smiled grimly, shouldering his weapon and glaring at the fiend. 'You put far too much trust in your own strength, fiend.' He ground out, pulling his sword off his shoulder. Red energy travelled down the sword as he ran up to the fiend, bringing his sword up and smashing it down. The fiend staggered back, then glared down at Auron. A low rumble emanated from it as it pointed at him and shook a fist.

'I think you're next, Auron.' Jassu said. Auron just nodded. The fiend shuffled forward slightly and slammed a fist into Jassu, making him fall. His sword fell to the ground, and Jassu picked it up and glared at the beast as the world darkened slightly.

'You asshole.' He grunted as he stabbed the blade into the ground in front of him and cracked his knuckles. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Auron pull Yuna back, but he was concentrated solely on the fiend in front of him. Red tendrils of energy wound themselves up the blade of the sword, running into the carvings like blood. 'Now we get to see who has the last laugh!' He pulled Harlequin out of the ground with one hand, running up to the fiend. As he reached it he jumped, bringing the sword above his head, and he slammed it into the fiend as he dropped. The fiend roared and tried to grab him off of its back, but Jassu had sprung clear. He sliced into the fiend again, a tendril of energy attaching itself to the fiend each time he hit. Then he sprung back, and the energy covered the fiend like a net. Raising his sword one last time, Jassu brought it down on the Chocobo Eater's head. As he brought it down the energy net exploded, throwing the guardian back. His sword flew after him, landing inches from his head and shattering.

The fiend staggered as Jassu stood up groggily, and it roared at him. 'Whatever.' He looked down at the remains of Harlequin. 'Shit! He broke my sword!'

Auron and Lulu ran in, Lulu letting fly a Fira as Auron sliced into the fiend. It wailed and collapsed into a cloud of pyre-flies. A metallic sound emanated from the cloud as it dispersed, leaving behind a black gauntlet with red and silver flames decorating it.

Jassu walked over to it, picking it up and examining it. 'Well, I'll keep this.' He finally said, fitting it on over his left arm.

Yuna looked at it. 'That's the Hellfire gauntlet, isn't it?'

'Yep.' Jassu nodded. 'I lost my original one a long time ago.' Then he looked over to what was left of Harlequin. 'Looks like that was one Overdrive too many, old girl.' He sighed, gathering the shards up and carrying them to the beach. One by one he threw them in, and watched as they dissolved. Then he turned to Auron.

'Got a sword I can use?'

Auron couldn't help but smile. 'No.'

'Bugger.' Jassu sighed heavily. 'Ah well, I'll just have to use my hands.'

Tidus looked from one guardian to another. 'Hey, can I ask a question?'

Jassu looked at him. 'You just did.'

'No, seriously.' Tidus said, frowning. 'How is it you two get on like great buddies, when I've known Auron for my whole life and I can't get him to even laugh?'

Jassu coughed a little uncomfortably, glancing over to Auron. 'We've known each other a very long time, Tidus.'

At that point (much to Jassu's relief) the chocobo handler ran up to them. 'Thank you so much for getting rid of the fiend.' She gushed, latching onto Jassu's arm. He raised an eyebrow. 'You must have been so strong to do that.'

Jassu glared at the woman. 'Get. Off.'

The woman blinked, then let go of him and dusted herself down. 'Oh. Well, because of the favour, you can rent the chocobos free for the first time.' She smiled at the party. 'Just talk to my assistant when you are ready.' She walked off, and Jassu made sure she was gone before chuckling.

'What's so funny?' Wakka frowned slightly.

'Nothing, coach.' Jassu grinned, shaking his head.

'Shall we use the chocobos?' Yuna asked Auron, who seemed to think for a minute then nodded. Lulu went to tell the assistant who came back with her leading seven of the birds.

'You can only take them as far as the other gate at Mushroom Rock Road. There's some sort of Crusader thing going on there, and they won't let anyone through.'

'Oh great.' Wakka sighed as he clambered onto his chocobo. 'Means we gotta walk to Djose, ya?'

'The walk'll do you good, Wakka.' Lulu commented, already on hers. The rest of the party mounted up, Yuna taking the lead with Auron and Tidus a little behind and to either side. The rest of the party trailed behind them, with Kimahri bringing up the rear. Jassu found himself riding next to Lulu.

'So how'd you join this pilgrimage?' Jassu asked, purely to make conversation. Lulu looked across at him.

'I've been around Yuna for a very long time. I regard her as a sister. So naturally I became her guardian.'

'Fair enough.' Jassu looked at the road ahead, his gaze falling on Auron. Lulu looked at him.

'You really travelled with Braska?'

Jassu nodded, and turned to face Lulu.

'How come nobody ever spoke of you?' She asked quietly. Jassu closed his good eye before answering.

'Probably because I was a failure.' He sighed. 'I joined the Warrior Monks when I was very small – my mother and father were killed by Sin. I don't even remember them.'

Lulu nodded. 'I remember mine a little.'

Jassu smiled a little. 'I heard of a Summoner who'd defied Yevon and married an Al Bhed. At first I was angry. What good Yevonite wouldn't be? Then I'd heard that he'd been cast out of the Yevon Order and told to give up summoning.

'This rung a little untrue. Surely it was the Fayth and Yevon who gave the Summoners power, not Bevelle?'

Lulu nodded, motioning for the man to continue.

'Then I heard that despite the Order, this Summoner had going into the Temple and had got himself an Aeon. With a young guardian hand-picked from the Warrior Monks called Auron.' Jassu smiled slightly. 'I was so jealous of him that I marched right up to Braska and almost demanded that he allowed me to become his guardian. I was a hothead when I was younger. He laughed at me and called me a child, and I was so angry!' Jassu laughed at the memory. 'But then I was ashamed of myself, and I said sorry. Braska smiled and told me he would have me as a guardian. I remember we were on our way down to the cells to see a drunk man who was raving about Zanarkand.'

'So why are you a failure?' Lulu asked. Jassu's expression darkened slightly.

'Because I made a stupid decision and abandoned my Summoner.'

Lulu wasn't going to let it rest. 'What decision did you make that was so bad?'

'I got myself badly injured and had to be left behind.' Was all he said, and Lulu could tell that Jassu wasn't going to say any more on the subject. His face had taken on a darkened brooding look as they rode.

'Mushroom Rock is up ahead.' Auron's voice broke Jassu out of his thoughts. 'We'll leave the birds here.'

The group dismounted and handed the reins to another Chocobo Keeper at the gates. Jassu noticed a large cart and wandered over to get a better look.

'Hey! No-one is to pass.' A man with short dark hair and dressed in a Crusader's uniform stepped in front of him. Jassu ignored him and looked at the wagon. Whatever was in it was not too happy about it.

'Is that Sinspawn?' Jassu turned his eye to the young Crusader.

'Yes, for use in Operation Mi'ihen, sir!'

'Operation Mi'ihen?' Jassu raised an eyebrow.

'Yessir! The Crusaders and Al Bhed have joined together to destroy Sin.'

Jassu shook his head. 'And Yevon approves?'

At this the young soldier's face fell. 'No. All Crusaders who are taking part have been thrown out of the Order. My friends back in Besaid won't even speak to me now.'

Jassu sighed, laying a hand on the young man's shoulder. 'If you believe what you're doing is right, follow your heart, not just the teachings.'

'Thank you sir!' The Crusader brought his fist to his chest in the Crusader's salute.

'Gatta! We're moving!' A voice rang out as the cart began to move forward. The man ran to the front, joining his companion as they moved off. Jassu wandered back to the others.

'Lady Yuna!' He called. Yuna looked up.

'Yes, Sir Jassu?'

'We have a slight problem.' He grimaced. 'The Crusaders are doing something up ahead, and not even Summoners and their Guardians are allowed to pass.'

'Yeah, we know.' Wakka said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at a retreating Summoner and her brute of a Guardian. 'Dona just found that one out, ya?'

Kimahri scowled. 'Dona not like Yuna. Kimahri not like Dona. Barthello smells worse then wet Ronso.'

This made the group laugh and nod their heads; most of them didn't like the other Summoner either.     

Just then Jassu felt Tidus stiffen slightly. He turned to look, and fixed his eye on a blue-haired Guado.

I...know...you...

'Lady Yuna!' A surprisingly high voice came from the tall Guado. 'What a surprise to see you here!'

Yuna bowed low and performed the Prayer to him. 'Maester Seymour!' She gasped.

'Please, rise, Lady Yuna. I have no love for formalities.' He looked around at the group. 'Is there a problem?'

'Yes.' Yuna said, looking back to where a Crusader was barring their path.

'Ah...' Seymour walked up to the Crusader. 'I wish for Lady Yuna and her guardians to join me at the command centre.'

'B-but Maester Seymour, sir!' The Crusader stammered.

'No buts. I will take full responsibility.' Seymour raised a hand, then turned to the group. 'Please, Lady Yuna, join me at the command centre.'

Yuna nodded and did the Prayer again, but the Maester was already gone.

Jassu narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't right with the Maester.

Stop...my...

Jassu shook his head. Now he was hearing voices. He was definitely going mad.

The group had only travelled a little ways before encountering a fiend. Just their luck it was a Funguar.

'Oh great.' Jassu moaned as pollen began to spray from the plant. 'Nobody breathe! Close your eyes!'

He'd said it too late for Tidus, Lulu and Yuna; the three who were closest to the plant collapsed onto the ground.

'Kimahri! Get them out of the way!' Jassu yelled, getting into a ready position, his left hand behind his back and his right held in front of him in a loose fist, the two first fingers held straight. Auron drew his sword.

'You can't do much to a plant with your hands, Jassu.'

'Maybe not.' Jassu conceded, holding the two fingers against his forehead and concentrating, flicking his fingers towards the Funguar. A spark flew from them, erupting into a Fira. The plant shrivelled into itself, wailing as it dissolved into pyre-flies.

'Shit I need a sword.' Jassu commented as he bent over the prone form of Tidus. 'Hey, wake up, kid.' He yelled into his ear. Tidus shot awake, his eyes wide.

'Shit!' He swore, glaring at Jassu who was laughing. 'Don't do that!'

'Whatever.' Jassu flipped a hand at Tidus, walking backwards. Until he fell over something and landed heavily on his butt.

'Ow.' Jassu glared at Tidus, who was incoherent with laughter. Then he looked at what he'd tripped over. 'Aha!'

A large sword, half covered in sand, was lying in the roadside. It was a blood red colour with serrated edges and a nasty hook on the end. It had blue flames travelling up the blade. The hilt was black with silver wrought into the handle. A name was carved into the blade, although Jassu had to scrub the sand away to read it.

'"Rednefed".' He said, testing the weight. Placing it into the empty scabbard on his back, he grinned. 'Hey, perfect fit. It's mine!'

Tidus was still giggling. 'You'll find it's a dud or something, I bet.' He said in between giggles. Jassu raised an eyebrow.

'Whatever, squirt.' He said, turning around and walking. Auron shook his head and followed Jassu.

'Here's your chance to find out, Jassu.' Auron nodded up to a mushroom-shaped rock up ahead. A large Garuda was hovering above it. Jassu smiled, stepping on the Yevon's Lift with Auron and drawing his sword.

'Hey birdie!' Jassu roared at the fiend, skidding in front of it. 'You wanna piece of me!'

The Garuda screamed, diving down towards Jassu. He held up his sword, and the Garuda hit it.

'Hah!' Jassu yelled, running forward and hitting the flying fiend with it. For some reason, the sword did almost no damage. 'Huh?'

Jassu ran and hit it again, with the same result. 'Shit! It's ace at defending, but crap at everything else!'

Auron walked calmly into the battle as Jassu fended off another attack. 'Try reading the name backwards.'

'Huh?' Jassu sidestepped another attack as Auron swiped at the Garuda. He concentrated for a moment. 'Defender! Bastards!'

'Who is?' Lulu asked as she stepped into the fray.

'Whoever made this sword! It's a Defender!'

'Ah.' She brought her hand down and smiled as the Garuda was hit dead on with a Thundaga. Jassu scowled and replaced the sword in his scabbard. Muttering to himself, he threw a Firega at the fiend, scowling as it fell to the ground. Pulling out a dagger from each boot, he went over to the Garuda and slit its throat, walking away and still muttering as it disappeared.

'What's up with him?' Wakka looked at the retreating back of Jassu, who was still muttering about his sword.

'Other people being inconsiderate enough to drop swords good at defending but not much else.' Auron replied, chuckling slightly and following the irate Jassu.

Tidus shook his head and Wakka smiled and placed an arm around his shoulders.

'Hey, you alright?'

Tidus looked up at the redhead and smiled. 'Yeah.'

The group made it through the valley, Jassu complaining the whole way.

'Look, will you be quiet?' Lulu sighed. Jassu looked at her and smiled.

'I'm sorry. I tend to mutter when things don't go the way I want them too.'

'Like the stall in Luca?' Auron snorted. 'You muttered all the way to Macalania, if I remember correctly.'

Jassu looked down at the ground, grinning. 'Wasn't my fault I got caught with it in my pocket, was it?'

'No, it was Braska's.' Auron rolled his eye. 'I think he did that just for a laugh, you know.'

'How was I to know that a Summoner knew how to pick pockets?'

Yuna looked between the two guardians. 'My father picked pockets?'

Auron shook his head. 'Not really, no. He just did it that one time as a practical joke. He was, after all,' Auron threw a look at Jassu, who found the sky interesting 'taught by the best.'

'I wasn't a monk all my life, Auron.'

'But sir-!'

The group turned at the shout. A little way below them, Gatta and a red-haired man was arguing. The group went down to them.

'No buts. You have your orders.'

'But Luzzu! I joined the Crusaders to fight!'

'Your orders are to guard the command centre.' Luzzu replied calmly. The enraged teen growled out something incomprehensible and ran to the lift. Wakka watched him go and turned to Luzzu.

'You shouldn't be too hard on him, ya know? He's just a kid.' Wakka said. Luzzu smile and shook his head.

'I know, Wakka. That's why I want him to guard the command centre instead of dying in the front line.' Luzzu sighed, then turned, facing the valley. 'Wakka...I might not get a chance to say this later...I...have a confession to make.'

'Luzzu, no!' Lulu reached towards the Crusader, her eyes wide.

'I have to, Lu. He deserves to know.'

Lulu gasped, then nodded, lowering her hand.

'Wakka...I...was the one who convinced Chappu to join the Crusaders.'

Wakka stepped back as if struck. He looked from the Crusader to Lulu. 'Lu...you knew?'

Lulu nodded, unshed tears in her eyes. Suddenly Wakka leapt forward and punched Luzzu in the face. Tidus jumped in and held Wakka back before he could beat the Crusader up.

'Wakka! Enough!' Tidus grunted, pulling him back. Luzzu blinked from his position on the ground.

'I deserved that.'

'Chappu always said...' Wakka shook off Tidus, his voice sounding like it would break. 'Chappu always said...that when he won the cup...he'd propose to Lu.'

Luzzu got up, feeling his jaw. 'Chappu also said that while being with your girl is good...keeping her safe from Sin is better.'

A messenger appeared over the rise. 'All Crusaders taking part in the operation are to go to the beach.' Then she disappeared.

'That's my cue.' Luzzu smiled slightly and made to walk forward. Yuna barred his path.

'Please, Sir Luzzu, don't go!'

'Let him pass, Yuna.' Auron said. 'He's made his decision.'

Yuna reluctantly moved aside, letting Luzzu go.

'Hey, Luzzu!'

Luzzu turned at the sound of Wakka's voice.

'You'd better not die out there, ya?'

Luzzu grunted and smiled. 'So you can hit me again?'

Wakka nodded and raised a fist in the air. 'Lots lots more!'

Jassu watched as Luzzu disappeared, his expression sober. 'That's a good man there.' He commented, and looked at the ground. 'C'mon, let's go.'

He moved off, getting to the lift and walking onto it. He waited for the others, then started it up.

'Are you alright, Sir Jassu?' Yuna asked.

'Huh?' Jassu looked up. 'Yeah, just lost in my thoughts. We'd better get moving.' He motioned to the rock in front of them as the lift stopped. The troop got off the lift, and walked over to where they could see a strange machine.

'Machina...' Wakka ground out, walking over and kicking the nearest on. He hopped away, cursing. The Al Bhed that was working on it looked up and took off his goggles.

'Fryd yna oui tuehk! E ryja du na-lycepnyda drec ykyuh! Tysh Oajuhudac!' [What are you doing! I have to re-calibrate this again! Damn Yevonites!]

'Shaddup!' Wakka yelled, sitting down and tending to his foot. Jassu smiled and walked over to the Al Bhed.

'Fa yna cunno vun Wakka's yldeuhc.' He spoke to the Al Bhed fluently. [We are sorry for Wakka's actions.]

'Dryd'c ymnekrd. Yna oui Al Bhed, vneaht?' The Al Bhed replied, looking closely at Jassu. [That's alright. Are you Al Bhed, friend?]

Jassu smiled and shook his head. 'Hu. Pid E nacbald ouin baubma yht maynd ouin myhkiyka.' [No. But I respect your people and learnt your language.]

'Oui cbayg ed famm.' The Al Bhed smiled at Jassu and handed him three Phoenix Downs and seven hundred gil. 'Dyga draca. E tuh'd haat dras. Huf, E sicd kad pylg du fung.' [You speak it well.] [Take these. I don't need them. Now, I must get back to work.]

'Dryhg oui, vneaht.' [Thank you, friend.] Jassu waved to the Al Bhed, stuffing the gil in his pocket and gave the Phoenix Downs to Yuna. 'Nice chap, isn't he?'

Wakka just looked at him. 'You sure you not Al Bhed too?'

Jassu fixed Wakka with his good eye. 'That's enough, Wakka. This man believes in what he is doing, just as you believe in what you are doing. I'm not Al Bhed, but I'm not exactly Yevonite either.' Jassu raised his sights to a Guado coming towards them. 'Ah, here comes the Maester.'

Seymour walked up to them, and Wakka immediately did the Prayer. 'Maester Seymour...sir...why are you...that is, why are you presently...present here, sir?'

Seymour smiled. 'Please. Talk as you usually would.'

'Well, what is happening?'

Seymour smiled, looking over the beach and the rocks lined with cannons. 'The Crusaders and the Al Bhed have joined forces to defeat Sin. I – not as Maester Seymour, but Seymour Guado – am here to bear witness to the men's bravery.'

'But it's machina! That's against the teachings!' Wakka gasped.

'Well, pretend you didn't see them.'

The whole group, besides Tidus, Jassu and Auron, gasped. 'Begging your pardon, but that's not what a Maester should say.' Wakka objected.

'Well, pretend I didn't say it.' Seymour smiled, and started walking. 'Please, come and join me in the command centre.'

The whole group followed Seymour with their eyes, until Jassu broke the silence. 'Well, I want to buy a new sword.'

'We can't.' Auron had already started walking. 'We haven't enough gil. Even with the seven hundred you have in your pocket.'

Jassu frowned. 'How the hell did you know?'

Auron just kept on walking.

Jassu watched him for a few minutes, then trudged along, muttering again.

Stop my...

Choose me!

I...love...you...

Jassu!

Jassu fell to his knees, clutching his head as pain shot through it. A dark shadow was forming out in the ocean. All noises in the physical world sounded muted, as if he was listening to them underwater.

Help me...Let me see him...Let me see my son...

'Jassu?'

I hear him...the Sinspawn...

'Jassu!'

The Sinspawn will escape...

'The Sinspawn!'

Jassu suddenly stood, running for the cliff edge. Auron was right behind him.

'What about the Sinspawn?'

'They will escape! Hurry!'

As he spoke, the cage suddenly burst open, all the fiends joined to make one big fiend.

'Shit! Auron, give me your old Katana!'

Without a word Auron passed Jassu his old sword and drew his own. Before he could stop him, Jassu had jumped off the cliff, the sword pointed below him, and had skewered the head of the fiend. Pulling his sword out, he jumped off before the claws on its neck could grab him. He swung at the middle, but a huge, shell-like arm covered it, deflecting the blow. Jassu frowned, bringing the heavy sword down on the joint that connected the arm to the body, then drove the sword into the creature's side.

'Jassu!' Auron joined the battle, closely followed by Wakka.

'It's armoured! Take care of the arms! Wakka, if the head moves, hit it!'

Auron moved in, taking a swipe at the arm. The fiend screamed, sweeping its arm at Jassu and sending him flying into the cliff. He fell to the ground, stunned.

Auron growled. 'Some can't wait to die!' He leapt high into the air, red energy building on the point of his sword. Slamming back down and driving the sword into the ground, the energy travelled to the fiend and exploded. The fiend screamed as Jassu staggered back into the fray.

'Wakka! The head!' Auron shouted. The head had started to move strangely. Wakka threw his blitzball, the ball hitting it dead on. The head stopped moving and turned black.

Jassu once again dove at the fiend, pushing the Katana into the centre and sending a Thundaga down the blade, shocking himself as well. The fiend wailed, then exploded, sending Jassu through the air still clutching Auron's sword. He slammed against the cliff again, falling to the ground totally unconscious. Yuna ran up to him.

'Sir Jassu?'

Auron shook his head. 'He is knocked out. We had best move him out of the way.'

A roar interrupted them, and Auron and Yuna turned to see Seymour holding back the same fiend that they had just fought with only his staff. He pushed the beast away as Auron and Yuna ran and flanked him.

'Ah, hello.' He smiled at the two as Auron growled.

'Doesn't this thing want to stay dead?' He said, shattering an arm with one blow. Seymour shook his head.

'Evidently not.' He sent a Waterga the fiend's way. 'How is your friend? I saw him deliver the finishing blow.'

'Jassu?' Auron dodged the other arm and drove his sword into the arm, destroying that one too. Changing the direction of the swing, he sliced into the belly, making the fiend scream. 'He's unconscious at the moment, but he'll recover.'

'Good.' Seymour nodded as he threw a Firega at the head, watching as it turned black. Yuna cast Cure on the two, standing back and letting the others do the fighting. Auron drove his sword into the belly again and Seymour threw a Thundaga into the centre, finally making the beast die.

'That's how it's done.' Auron nodded satisfactorily, leaning on his sword, He nodded to the young Maester, then he and Yuna ran back to the fallen Jassu. Auron hoisted him up with help from Wakka and dragged him up onto the cliff again.