© Lexiter Jackson 2003

Tears of the Fayth

Chapter Three

Djose and Danny

Well, howdy – I'm quite proud of myself at the moment! Another update! Wow, man, this needs to be taken note of. As long as I can keep it up, of course…but I am verily scribbling as fast as I can – in fact, I'm about five chapters ahead of the game. Yay!

Anyway, I've got another cookie to give out! Yes!! Review review review!! I live for reviews!

Eva Kasumi – Good to see I haven't scared you off yet! Thanks for dropping me a review and saying my story rocks. *hands over promised cookie* There you go!

Anyway – usual things now. I own absolute squat except for the obvious – and there is a seriously cute sub-character included here. I dunno, I was in a cute-ish kinda mood. So sue. Actually, don't. I have no money.

Once again – YAOI (male/male love) don't like, don't read, don't flame. Actually, having read through my story (a fairly humbling experience) I have realised there is practically no yaoi whatsoever. Yet. Only slight references – but that will all change in the next chapter. Hee hee. Be prepared for the rating to go RIGHT up.

Anyway, warnings – a couple of innuendos in this chapter, a few references, nothing spectacular. Oh, and cute little furry green things. Hee hee.

So, enjoy, and drop a review! Please! Um…please?

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

The sky above was scattered with stars. He'd always liked the stars; they calmed the mind. But for some reason he could find no peace that night, no matter how far he walked. It always caught up with him again. He sighed, and sat down, watching the moon play on the water like a lover's hand, stroking the waves as they reached further up the beach.

A shadow fell over him; where did he learn to walk so quietly?

'Hey.'

He relaxed; not the person he thought – dreaded – hoped – it was. The figure sat down beside him, sitting for a moment and enjoying the view.

'I thought you'd be out here.'

He nodded. Sighed. 'Is it that obvious?'

A chuckle followed the question. 'To me it is.' A sigh, then a shift in position. An arm wrapped around his shoulders, making him freeze for a second.

'Hey, relax. I don't bite.'

He leaned into the embrace, tears finally falling as the other held him.

'Y'know, I miss my family.' The other sighed. 'I know I'll never see them again. I never got to tell my son...never got to tell him that I love him.' The other was shaking now, shaking with tears that they refused to shed. 'I'll never get to see him grow up.'

He was pushed away, the other holding him at arms length. 'Whatever you do, don't leave it too late.'

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

Jassu slowly came too, sitting up slowly. Raising a hand to his cheek, he realised that it was wet from tears again, although he couldn't remember why.

'Stand back! I'll summon!'

The panicked scream brought him fully to the real world, and Jassu stood up, wincing as various parts of his body complained at him loudly.

'Yuna!' He cried, running towards where the Summoner was preparing to call on one of her Aeons. 'Don't! You aren't powerful enough!'

'But-!'

Jassu grabbed her shoulder as pain shot through his skull. 'No!'

Yuna looked at her guardian, then her shoulders slumped and she lowered her staff. Jassu took the young girl into his arms, sighing.

'If you want to help, go down and help those soldiers who are hurt.'

Yuna nodded and slowly made her way down the cliff. Jassu sighed and looked out to sea, where he could see Sin waiting.

I hope you know what you are doing…

Auron walked up and stopped beside him. Jassu sighed.

'She's too young for this.'

Auron nodded. 'I have noticed this.'

'Why did you let her do it, then?' Jassu asked, no hint of accusation in his tone.

'Because Braska knew she would, and I promised…'

Auron didn't need to finish; Jassu already knew what he was going to say. Suddenly he didn't want to be around the other guardian. Sighing, he walked over to the cliff face and sat down, leaning against the cool rock and closing his eye. Suddenly he felt too old.

A shadow fell across him, and a warmth flashed over his body as someone cast Cure on him. He opened his eye, greeted with the sight of Auron settling down beside him, his sword across his knees.

'Did you actually die, friend?' Auron asked Jassu quietly. Jassu looked down at the stone ground in front of him.

'I was Sent. I don't know.' Jassu replied. And it was the truth; he could only remember Braska beginning the Sending, and then…limbo. That's the only way he could describe it.

Auron looked at Jassu; he certainly didn't look Unsent. Auron snorted slightly.

'Y'know...' Jassu sighed and looked over to Auron. 'I...really missed you.'

Auron raised an eyebrow, making Jassu smile and scratch the back of his head sheepishly. 'You missed me?'

'Yeah...I didn't have your cynisism to keep me in line.' Jassu smiled. 'Lord Braska's nice, but...'

Auron nodded. Then he reached across and took Jassu's hand. Jassu looked up at him, then down at their joined hands, and the unshed tears that hung at the edge of his eye finally fell. Auron sighed, pulling the man into an embrace as he sobbed.

'This...is hard on you.' Auron whispered. Jassu continued to sob as Auron watched Sin decimate the troops on the beach. Under the brash exteriour of the other man, he knew, there lay a frightened child. Jassu had always been the child of the group, although Jecht could have given him a run for his money – especially in the beginning.

I really hope that what you're doing is right. He sent the thought to the huge creature that sat out in the bay.

Jassu continued to sob into Auron's robe, unable to understand just what was making him cry. Like a child again... He sat up, wiping the dampness from his cheek. 'I-I'm sorry, Auron...'

Auron looked over and smiled slightly. 'Why? If I remember rightly, even I cried from time to time when nothing made sense.'

Jassu snorted. 'You, cry? Nah.'

Auron...Braska...Jassu...

Help me...

I've...seen my son...

Tell him...that this...is what Sin does...

What I do...

Help me!

Jassu held his head as the last statement passed through, accompanied by something that wasn't quite agony and wasn't quite a scream. Auron blinked as the other man's face contorted, then calmed.

'What is it?'

'Jecht...I...I can hear him.' Jassu said as he dropped his hands and stared out at Sin as it wailed and moved off. 'He...wanted to show Tidus this to show him what Sin did.'

Auron nodded. 'I will go and round up the others. Wait here. We'll go on to Djose Temple when we're ready.'

Jassu nodded, standing up and placing Auron's Katana into the scabbard on his back. Not the most perfect fit, and the weapon was a little too unwieldy for him, but he'd survive. He walked to the edge of the cliff, looking down. He was standing at quite a phenomenal height. He could see a whirl of pyre-flies below him, slowly spiralling upwards from the Sendings. A dull ache echoed their flight in his chest, and he found himself wishing he was with them as he looked down at the people at the bottom. He could see the red that was Auron, and the blue that was Seymour. He seemed to be saying something – although Jassu was way too high to make it out. Tidus was trudging up the beach towards the group. Jassu wondered if he knew where his father was now. From the way he walked, he did.

Then Seymour walked off, and the group started to walk up. Kimahri and Tidus lagged behind a little, talking, as much as the Ronso's clipped conversation could be taken as talking anyway. Jassu sighed and walked down to meet them on the Djose Highroad.

Yuna almost seemed too enthusiastic as she led the others towards the Temple. Tidus and Auron were lagging behind, and Jassu went with them.

'Don't fall in love with her, Tidus.'

Tidus looked at Auron as if he were mad. 'What makes you think I will, old man?'

Jassu couldn't help but smile. 'Yeah, I think Wakka might get a little jealous, no?'

Tidus turned to face him, his face red. 'What?'

Jassu grinned at the young blitzballer. 'I ain't blind, Tidus.'

Tidus kept quiet after that, his cheeks burning as Jassu chuckled. 'I won't tell anyone, and neither will he.' Jassu jabbed a thumb to the silent guardian.

The group wound its merry way through Basilisks ('Hey, I got a new sword! Maybe it'll drop one for Jassu too!') and other myriad creatures, until they finally made it to the Pilgrimage Road. Small green and yellow creatures with long ears were bouncing around the few Crusaders on the road, and one of them ran up to Jassu and sniffed his leg. Obviously liking what it smelled, it ran up his leg and perched on his shoulder, causing the party to laugh.

'Well, aren't we a cheeky one.' Jassu smiled, raising a hand to stroke the small animal on the head. 'Anyone have any idea what this is?'

'It doesn't have a name.' A priest was walking up to them, smiling. 'They are usually incredibly wary of humans. This one seems to like you, sir.'

'Jassu Rammas.' Jassu nodded to the priest, holding out a hand. 'Guardian to Lady Yuna.' He motioned to the young Summoner a little way away.

'Ah yes.' The preist nodded taking Jassu's hand and shaking it. 'She has been working hard to help those from Operation Mi'ihen.' The priest shook his head. 'Please, follow me.'

The party followed the priest, the little animal still clinging to Jassu's shoulder and chittering.

'Aw, that is sooo cute!' A nun they had met on the Mi'ihen Highroad, Shelinda, rushed up to Jassu, her eyes fixed on the little animal on his shoulder. 'How did you get it to stay there?'

The little thing squeaked and tried to hide behind Jassu's head at the attention. 'I don't know. It just decided it liked me.'

'Jassu!'

Jassu sighed, and climbed the stairs into the trails, the little animal holding tight to an ear. He pushed the doors open and joined the others, looking around the Trials.

'I could never do these things. Call me when you're done.'

Tidus ran off – he'd shown a unique talent at these. Jassu sat down, pulling a biscuit out of a pocket and coaxing the small green animal off his shoulder and onto his knee.

'I guess you'll be sticking with me then.' Jassu sighed as the animal watched him with wide black eyes. It squeaked quietly as if answering and wrinkled its nose. Jassu smiled. 'So what shall we call you?'

He reached up and scratched it behind the ears. The animal cooed and leaned into his hand, its eyes falling shut in bliss. 'Hm. Maqedan?' ["Lexiter" in Al Bhed. I will get in this fic somehow!] Jassu thought for a bit. 'A little on the long side, but I can shorten it. What do you think?' He asked the creature. 'Danny? "Terra" in Al Bhed.'

The creature jumped up and down, whistling and squeaking. Jassu smiled and stood up. 'Danny it is then.' He clicked his fingers above his shoulder, and Danny climbed up to it.

'Cracked it!' Tidus shouted from an inner room. Jassu followed the others into the Chamber and watched as Yuna went into the Fayth chamber. Jassu leant against a wall, panting slightly. Suddenly it seemed like he was very short of breath, as if he'd just run all the way from Besaid to here. He sat on the floor, trying to make it look like he was just tired from the battle on the beach. Danny perched on his knee, cooing worridly at him. Jassu tried to reach up and scratch his ears, but his body felt like lead.

'Oh it's you again.' The group, except for Jassu, looked up at Dona. She sneered. 'I see the rabble has gotten bigger since we last met.'

Barthello was standing in front of Auron, frowning.

'What's the matter, Barthello? You know this riff-raff?' Dona sneered at Auron. The whole room held its breath.

'Are you Sir Auron?' Barthello finally asked. Auron nodded, and Barthello grinned, holding out his hand. 'Can I shake your hand? You're the reason I became a guardian.'

Auron chuckled and shook the beefy man's hand. 'And you're doing a fine job.'

All this passed over Jassu's head. It felt like his head was underwater. The room around him was dim and he couldn't hear properly.

Please, grant me an Aeon that I might defeat Sin.

What will you call me?

Ixion.

Who is the one who sits outside?

Wh-what do you mean?

Never mind.

Jassu felt like he was trying to breathe underwater, too. The ache in his chest flared up once, then disappeared altogether, as did the feeling of breathlessness and of being underwater. He blinked, then wrinkled his nose as Danny licked it. He stood up, coughed, and looked down at the little creature. He bent down and picked it up, placing it on his shoulder as the portal to the Fayth opened and Yuna stumbled out.

'I...have a new Aeon. Ixion...' She smiled as Lulu moved in to support her. Jassu smiled, and felt Yuna's eyes on him. He looked up and frowned.

'Something wrong, milady?' He asked. Yuna shook her head, then pushed herself off Lulu.

'No. C'mon, lets go and catch the shoopuf!'

Auron shook his head. 'First we sleep.'

Yuna nodded. 'I'll go and make sure that the wounded have some care.' She walked out and the rest followed her. Jassu threw one last look at the Fayth before leaving, sure that someone – or something – was watching him. He shook his head, much to the discomfort of Danny, and continued walking.

As they walked down the steps into the temple proper, a giggling Shelinda greeted them at the bottom.

'Sir Jassu!' She cried, looking at Danny on his shoulder. 'You'll never guess what they're calling those now!'

Jassu raised an eyebrow. 'Don't tell me they've named them after me.'

Shelinda nodded. 'Yes, they have!' She giggled. 'They're Jassites!'

Jassu sighed. 'Great. If I don't become a famous guardian then at least I have an animal named after me.'

Yuna started giggling, then Lulu, and soon the whole group was laughing at Jassu. Danny sat up on his shoulder, one paw on Jassu's ear while another held a small piece of biscuit.

'Kew?' It squeaked, looking around. It blinked, then offered the bit of biscuit to Jassu. 'Kew?'

'Not for me, Danny. You eat it. Your biscuit.' Jassu said. Looking around at the laughing group. He huffed.

'I'm going to bed.' So saying, he made his way towards the inn. Danny looked behind them. He stood up, waved to them, nearly fell off Jassu's shoulder and whistled, as if it was the one who'd done all this.

'Shush, Danny.' Jassu took the – now newly named – Jassite off his shoulder and held it in his arms. Danny squeaked and held out the biscuit, his eyes screwed in concentration.

'Bit-sit?'

Jassu raised an eyebrow. 'You can learn words? Interesting.' He made his way to a bed and placed the tired Jassite on the mattress as he took off his sword, coat and boots, sitting down and removing the hair tie. Sighing, he lay back and pulled the covers over him, smiling as Danny came and curled up with him.

'You are sickingly cute...' Jassu whispered before falling asleep, the day finally taking its toll on the warrior.

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

Pain. Horrendous, mind-burning pain that went through the boundries of agony into something that was very close to pleasure – not that the thought comforted him at the time. It felt like he was being ripped apart very slowly from the inside – as if something was fighting to get out. Something snapped inside of him, and he opened his mouth to scream, but no human sound came out – just a gutteral roar.

The pain disappeared as soon as it came, and with it the feeling of not belonging. He was left again in total darkness. Light glinted off something very near him – strange because there was no light to reflect in a place like this. He reached out to touch the shard of light, and drew his hand back sharply – the shard had lashed out and had cut him. Blood poured from the cut, but it didn't hurt, or rather, it was a distant pain, as if someone else had been cut and he was feeling the pain.

The shard suddenly opened out, revealing an image to him – an image of a tall, bare-chested man training with a sword. Wherever the man was, there was sunlight – it glistened on his body, carved of stone and covered in a light sheen of sweat as he brought the sword down in one final sweep. He groaned.

The vision – image – whatever it was faded, and he saw instead something that was repulsive but attractive at the same time, unfamiliar yet familiar. A winged being hovered above him, black angel's wings spread from his shoulders. He was wearing black – that much he could see. His face was framed by long black hair, and his head was lowered. His arms were crossed over his chest and his hands were tipped with blood-red claws. In one hand he held a huge sword – black with blood red and silver flames wrought into the blade. The hilt was a cold midnight blue.

He shuddered, both with fear and a sort of excitement unknown to him, a dark shock that ran through his veins like liquid fire, like blood bubbling from a wound, dark, rich and enticing.

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

Jassu sat up, his eye focussing on the first thing he saw – a nun. Danny squeaked indignantly at him, then whistled worridly when he saw that his master was awake. The Jassite clambered up to his cheek and nuzzled it. The nun cooed when she saw it.

'That is cute! I didn't believe it when I first heard it, but there you go...' She chattered away while arranging the other beds. 'So you must be Sir Jassu? The others are waiting outside for you. Sir Tidus – such a handsome young man – has gone to get Lady Yuna, and then you can go.'

Jassu was too busy getting dressed to pay much attention. The little Jassite made a running leap for his shoulder, just about managed it and trilled.

'Bit-sit?'

Jassu smiled and turned to the nun. 'Have you got any plain biscuits for sale?'

The nun nodded, running and getting three packets. 'You can have them for free. After all, Lady Yuna sat up all night and helped the injured – the least I can do is give you these.'

Jassu thanked the woman, giving a biscuit to Danny and walking out of the inn. Yuna and Tidus had just turned up, and everyone was laughing at her bed hair.

'A Summoner with bed hair!' Wakka gasped. Yuna sighed and turned to Auron.

'Are we going now?'

'We'll leave,' Auron smiled slightly 'as soon as Lady Yuna fixes her hair.'

'Oh, you too, Sir Auron?' Yuna cried. She shook her head and giggled. 'Ah, Sir Jassu! You'll protect me!'

Jassu smiled. 'Why should I do that? You can protect yourself.'

Yuna looked up at him and smiled. 'Please?'

Jassu sighed. 'Fine.' He picked Yuna up and slung her over his shoulder, looking at the others. 'Shall we?'

'Put me down!' Yuna gasped, laughing too much to put up much of a fight. Danny blinked at her and held out a bit of biscuit.

'Bit-sit?'

Jassu put her down and smiled. 'He likes you.' He said. Yuna smiled at the Jassite.

'You are adorable!' She smiled. The animal looked down at her, then at Jassu. 'Nu bit-sit?'

Jassu laughed and scratched the Jassite behind the ears. 'No, Yuna doesn't want a biscuit. Eat it yourself!'

Yuna watched the little creature as the rest of the group caught up. 'He can talk?'

'Not really.' Jassu said. 'But he's learning.'

'Come on.' Auron called. 'I'd like to get to the Moonflow before nightfall.'

'Okay!' Yuna called back. She ran to her guardians, and Jassu folowed. He looked at Auron ahead of them and sighed. If only he could get his emotions sorted.

'Don't leave it too late.'

Jassu nodded to the memory, sighed, and continued walking.

'Jassu! Auron!'

The shouts broke Jassu out of his memories, and he ran ahead, drawing his sword. Danny hissed as he smelled fiends, and indeed, three Vouivres had lumbered into the party's path, with a Basilisk behind them.

'Yuna! Have any of your Aeons got Overdrives?' Auron called, drawing his sword. Jassu did the same, the Jassite cowering down on his shoulder.

'Yes!' Yuna called. 'Valefor!'

'Then for Yevon's sakes use it!'

A searing pain shot through Jassu's head like last time as Yuna called on the Aeon, but this time he managed to stay on his feet. His vision was blurred and it felt like someone was trying to drive a spike into his brain through his nose, but he managed to stumble away before Valefor landed on him. The flying Aeon looked at him quizzicly before taking off again, and then it homed in on the fiends.

Valefor roared as the world darkened, and he somersaulted, fixing the fiends with a glare that froze them to the spot. He brought his headdress round, creating a circle of light. Energy built up at the tip of his beak, connecting with the circle. The group hid their eyes as beams hit the fiends, shooting out white that was painful to look at. The fiends all collapsed, fading away into pyre-flies. Valefor took another look at Jassu and landed next to him, bowing his head down as if examining him. Then he took off, flying up into the sky. Jassu felt the pain ebb away, replaced once again with the feeling of emptiness.

'What was that all about?' Wakka frowned. 'It was like Valefor knew you, ya?'

Jassu shook his head to clear it and pushed the sword back into the scabbard. 'I have no idea.' He said honestly.

Lulu looked at Jassu. 'You're white as a sheet.' She said. 'Are you sure you're alright?'

'I'm fine.' Jassu ground out. 'Now just leave me alone!' He stalked ahead of the group, drawing his sword and disappearing from view. Yuna made to follow him, but Auron held her back.

'Leave him be.' Auron whispered. Pain showed clearly in Auron's remaining eye as he watched the other guardian disappear.

'What's up with him, anyway?' Tidus crossed his arms. 'All Lu did was ask if he's okay.'

Auron looked at him. 'He's been under a lot of stress. And he hates showing weakness with a passion.' The scream of a dying fiend echoed out over the group, making Auron wince slightly. 'And he has a hell of a temper.' He amended as another scream followed the first.

Jassu pulled his sword out of the last fiend before it disappeared into a flurry of pyre-flies. He pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes before scowling and moving on.

I'm not a child. Of course I'm alright! Unless I cannot walk or see, I am alright. He buried the Katana in the cranium of a Basilisk and cut the fiend in half. As the fiend died, he stopped for a second, leaning on the sword. What's with me? I'm rising to the smallest little thing...and Auron... Jassu closed his eye. He's changed so much. Is there anything of the old Auron left? Is there any of the old me left? Lord Braska, I don't know if I can do this. There's too much I don't understand...too much has changed...Auron...

He heard footsteps not far from him – the heavy tread of boots on sand. He didn't bother moving or opening his eye – he knew that step.

'Jassu.'

Jassu grunted, acknowledging the other's presence.

'Look at me, Jassu.'

Jassu opened his eye and looked at Auron. Still the same size, still the same highly toned body...just the scar marring his face, and even that added to his looks. Just...the eyes (or the eye) had changed. A hostile, brooding red, the colour of dried blood. Jassu allowed himself a couple of seconds scrutiny, then turned away.

'Jassu. Don't walk away from me.'

Jassu snorted, but didn't say anything. 'The others?'

'Taking a rest. I want to talk to you.'

Jassu paused, the only sound being Danny as he squeaked softly into his ear, trying to sooth his agitated master. He sighed, pulling the sword out of the ground and sitting down with his back against a rock for an answer. Auron sat beside him.

For a while the two just stared into space, lost in their own thoughts and memories. The sun had slipped a little lower before Auron spoke.

'Jassu...why do you think you failed Lord Braska?'

Jassu sighed, a bitter sigh. 'Still as diplomatic as ever, Auron.' He fished out a biscuit for Danny, who sniffed it, took it and nibbled, eyes flicking from one man to another. 'I failed him, and you, because I allowed myself to die.'

'Simple as that?'

'Simple as that.'

Auron shook his head. 'You didn't fail us, Jassu. You...you saved my life. Thank you.'

Jassu leant his head against the rock. 'It doesn't feel that easy. But you're welcome.'

Auron looked into the face of his comrade, and noted the lines of pain and worry that shouldn't have been there. He sighed, looking away again. 'If it makes you feel better, I failed Braska far worse.'

'Oh?' Jassu raised an eyebrow.

'I allowed Jecht to become the Final Summoning.'

'That's not failing, Auron.' Jassu snorted.

'It is to me.' Auron looked into Jassu, and Jassu burst out laughing. Auron chuckled as Jassu stood up and offered him a hand.

'I'm not that old.' Auron grunted as Jassu helped him up, pulling a little too hard and making Auron fall into him. Jassu suddenly found himself very close to Auron's face, unable to pull his eye away from Auron's. Confusion was swirling in the depths, as he was sure it was swirling in his.

'Ahem.'

The two men pushed apart, blushing like children caught with stolen cookies as Lulu stood there, trapping a foot.

'If you men want some more time...'

'Hey! We weren't doing anything!' Jassu clicked his fingers over his shoulder, and Danny scampered up to it, chattering at Lulu and shaking a tiny fist. Lulu raised an eyebrow.

'At least you've got your colour back.' She smiled at the two men. 'Yuna wants to know if we can move on now.'

'Yes.' Auron nodded. 'We should reach the Moonflow at nightfall, and cross in the morning.' Auron glanced at Jassu and his cheeks darkened slightly. 'And for your information, Jassu was showing me a couple of defence moves that he's learnt since I saw him.'

Lulu nodded, smiling slightly, then she turned and went down to the others.

'In a better mood, now?' Auron asked Jassu. Jassu nodded.

'Yeah, thanks. And thank you for coming up with that excuse. Er...' Jassu thought for a moment. 'What was the excuse for, exactly?'

Auron opened his mouth, frowned, then shut it again. 'I don't know.'

'Eh.' Jassu shrugged, leaning down and picking up the Katana, placing it into his scabbard. 'Mind if I keep this for a while?'

Auron nodded as the group reached them. 'Yeah, but be careful. That's my favourite weapon.'

Lulu suddenly snorted, and covered her mouth with her hand as everyone looked at her. 'Er...pardon me?' She said. She raised an eyebrow at Auron, who raised one right back.

'Come on!' Jassu called. 'The Moonflow ain't gonna wait forever, y'know!'

They finally made it to the Moonflow just as the sun was disappearing from view. They booked into the inn and settled down.