Wakka wrapped his arms around Tidus' waist tightly as the ship lurched. Kimahri ran down the stairs to the deck as fast as he could. Tidus clung to Wakka as a wave crashed over the deck, threatening to wash them away. Wakka hung onto the rope guard rail with one hand and crushed Tidus against him with the other. Kimahri was more towards the bow's deck, hanging onto the rope as well. The blonde pressed his cheek to Wakka's shoulder as another wave crashed over them.
"Tidus!" Rikku called.
Both summoner and guardian looked up to see Rikku bracing herself in the doorway to below deck.
"It's heading for Kilika!" She cried.
"Mother!" Tidus realized in horror.
The blonde broke away from Wakka and ran for the bow. He grabbed onto the harpoon gun but Kimahri and Wakka stopped him from firing.
"Whoa! If you harpoon it we'll be dragged under!" Wakka said.
"Please, Wakka. We have to distract it! My mom is on Kilika!"
Rikku ran up and manned the other harpoon gun. Wakka didn't hesitate a moment longer.
"Ok! Skewer the bastard!"
Rikku and Tidus fired. Tidus missed by a scant inch but Rikku was right on the money. The cable tightened and everyone fell backwards as the ship was yanked forward at an amazing speed. Kimahri grabbed Tidus who grabbed Wakka who grabbed Rikku. Having a harpoon stuck in its fin didn't seem to perturb Sin. It didn't even slow down.
"No good!" Rikku cried.
Wakka tossed his blitzball at the fin to no avail. Tidus summoned Cerberus. Left Brother cast a powerful Thundaga spell on the fin. Sin still didn't take notice to the guests it was dragging along. There was a creaking sound and the harpoon gun broke free of the deck and went sailing into the ocean. Tidus dismissed Cerberus and watched, helpless, as Sin sped towards Kilika.
*****************
Maya Spardas was reading a book when a shadow fell over her. The woman looked out her window to see Sin and a massive tidal wave approaching. The blonde calmly set her book aside and folded her hands in her lap.
"I forgive you." She said to Sin.
The blonde stood and took a picture off the kitchen counter. It was a picture of her, Tidus, Rikku, and Kimahri enjoying the sun on Besaid Beach last summer.
"I love you Tidus and I'm proud of you. I love you too Rikku...Kimahri...watch over my son."
Maya clutched the framed picture close to her chest as the roof of her hut ripped off.
******************
"NO!!" Tidus howled as his mother's and many other houses were destroyed.
Wakka's arms automatically wrapped around the anguished summoner as he watched the scene in horror.
"Oh Yevon no...!!" Rikku cried, bursting into tears.
Debris lazily swirled around Sin like a slow tornado. Kimahri turned his head away. He couldn't watch anymore. Other people that had been on the boat gathered to watch.
"M-maybe...she'll be ok..." Wakka whispered.
Tears rolled down Tidus' cheeks, "She had a house right on the water...she's gone. I feel it..."
Someone in the crowd comforted Rikku. Kimahri walked over to Tidus and Wakka. The blonde broke out of Wakka's embrace and cried into Kimahri's chest. The Ronso hugged the teen tightly. He had his eyes squeezed shut. He didn't want Tidus to see him cry. Just as quickly as it came, Sin left. Other people on the boat started to cry too. Wakka wiped his own watery eyes and gently patted Rikku's head. She cuddled against his side, hiccuping. The man wrapped one arm around her. It would be another three hours until they reached Kilika. A sad, miserable three hours.
The setting sun had made the sky turn pink when the S.S. Liki reached its destroyed destination. As soon as the ship docked everyone rushed off to see if their loved ones survived. Tidus ran from the ship as fast as he could. He ran the length of the dock and turned right. His mother's house had been built on a reinforced dock at the edge of the port.
"Tidus!!" Rikku called, running after the teen. "Tidus!!"
Tidus stopped in his tracks. There was nothing there anymore. Not even parts of the dock where left. Rikku caught up with Tidus. Her mouth dropped as she surveyed the scene. The girl started crying again and Kimahri hugged her. Wakka set one hand on Tidus' shoulder. The blonde set his hand on top of Wakka's.
[I will slay Sin for you mother...] Tidus thought.
The summoner half-turned to see two Kilikans looking at him.
"I assume you've gathered the bodies." They nodded. "And I assume my mother was among them..."
"Sadly...yes. She was." The Kilikan woman said quietly.
"If there is no other summoner here I would like to perform the Sending."
"We would be honored." The man replied.
The woman turned and left but the man gave the hand on Tidus' shoulder a *look* before departing. Wakka frowned, but said nothing and took his hand off Tidus' shoulder. The blonde saw something floating on the water and he waded in to fetch it. It was one of his mother's silk carves. It was her favorite one: orange-red trimmed with gold. Tidus smiled and tied the scarf tightly onto the loop on the handle of Liquid Steel. The group took one last look at where Maya's house used to be before making their way to the underwater burial ground. Tidus toed his boots and socks off and stood at the edge of the water. He counted twenty six coffins in the water.
"I've never seen a Sending before..." Wakka said.
"Me neither." Rikku replied.
"So...what happens?"
"After Tidus performs the Sending the coffins are cut loose. They never wash up on shore any where and they're never found out on the ocean. Legend says that the Fayth pick the coffins up and carry them to a place more sacred than Zanarkand." The Al Bhed explained.
"Deep."
"Yeah..."
Tidus waded out into the water up to his waist. The crowd was quiet except for the sound of sobbing. The blonde took a deep breath and started to perform his Sending dance. Wakka's eyes widened slightly as the water lifted Tidus up so he was standing on its surface. The torches' flames around Tidus turned blue as he continued the Sending. Pyreflies started to emerge from the coffins and swirl around Tidus. Wakka watched. It would be beautiful. Tidus' movements where fluid and graceful. The sun was glancing off the blonde's sword, making it glow. The pyreflies sparkled brilliantly in a tornado around Tidus. It would be beautiful if Wakka didn't know what the pyreflies were. If Tidus' own mother wasn't among the dead. Tidus finished the Sending and the pyreflies flew off into the sky. He was lowered gently back into the water and the blonde dove under to cut the coffin marked "Maya Spardas" loose. He watched from underwater as the coffin surfaced started its journey out to sea. Tidus surfaced as other people started wading into the water to cut their loved ones loose. The summoner made his way back to his guardians. He spoke quietly and couldn't bring himself to look at any of his friends.
"If it isn't gone we'll stay at the inn tonight. We'll head for Kilika Temple at dawn. That'll give us plenty of time to catch the S.S. Winno to Luca. Since I promised the Aurochs I'd watch their game that's what we'll do. We'll continue on from there."
"Tidus..." Rikku started.
"Don't. It's ok. I'll be fine..."
The group was relieved to discover that the inn was still standing.
"We have one room with two double beds in it. I'm sorry, Sir Tidus. That's the best I can do." The clerk said.
Tidus smiled, "That's quite all right. We'll take it."
Tidus paid the clerk for the room and took the key.
"I claim Tidus!" Rikku said, clinging to her friend. "He's my bed mate!"
Wakka and Kimahri exchanged glances.
"I don't think so, Rik. I'm not bunking with Kimahri."
"Oh I'll sleep with Kimahri." Tidus said, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, you two."
"I don't want to sleep with Wakka. That's why I claimed you. You're mine!" Rikku grinned.
Kimahri shrugged. He didn't care who he ended up with. Rikku thought for a moment then her eyes lit up.
"No wait! I claim Kimahri!!" The Ronso rolled his eyes as Rikku attached herself to him. "He doesn't hog the blankets because he sleeps on top of the covers. Mine!!"
Rikku shrieked as Kimahri slung her over his shoulder, took the key from Tidus, and walked upstairs. Tidus grinned sheepishly at the clerk, who was giving them a funny look.
"There's snacks and such in the mini-fridge..." The clerk said, motioning to the staircase.
"Thanks..." Tidus looked over at Wakka. "Looks like we're bed mates. Are you all right with that? Because I can sleep on the floor."
"No, it's fine. I'll survive." Wakka grinned.
"Well c'mon then. We should get upstairs before Rikku and Kimahri discover the fridge. Those two have the biggest appetites in all of Spira."
Wakka laughed and followed his employer upstairs and to their room. They joined Rikku and Kimahri and made a supper out of the various snack foods in the fridge. Once they were done it was about 8:30.
"We should sleep now." Tidus said.
Rikku nodded, took her boots off, and crawled into bed. Kimahri lay beside her and curled up. Tidus kicked his boots off and took his gloves and vest off. Wakka pulled his boots off and crawled under the blankets. Tidus soon joined him. The redhead couldn't help but blush when Tidus smiled at him.
"Good night, Wakka."
"Night Tidus..."
---------------------------------
Wakka was awakened by the sounds of someone crying softly. The redhead sat up to discover that Tidus was gone. The guardian grabbed his blitzball, just in case, and followed the sound. He found Tidus outside on the balcony, quietly crying into his hands. Wakka frowned sadly and set his blitzball aside. He cleared his throat and Tidus whirled around to face him. Tears were streaming down the teen's cheeks. His eyes were puffy and red, he'd been crying for a while.
"I'm sorry." Tidus whispered, turning away. "Did I wake you?"
"Yeah...but that's all right..."
Wakka walked over to the summoner. He gently ran his hands down the blonde's bare back before sliding his arms around the boy's waist.
"It's going to be difficult for quite some time, Tidus." The redhead murmured. "When Chappu and Rayna were killed I was devastated...just as you are now. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that you lost your mother."
"I'm such a crybaby." Tidus muttered, viciously wiping at his tears.
Wakka frowned and turned Tidus around. "Please tell me you're kidding." Tidus looked away. "You're not. Crying over your mother's death doesn't make you a crybaby. It makes you a human being with feelings. Right now, Rikku and Kimahri both have tears running down their faces in their sleep. Does that make them crybabies?"
Tidus shook his head. He sniffled and went to snuggle into Wakka, but hesitated.
"It's ok." Wakka whispered.
The blonde snuggled against Wakka's muscular chest and cried. Wakka held his summoner close, stroking the teen's hair and murmuring reassuring words to him.
----------------------
Rikku awoke to the sun shining in her face. She moaned and looked at the wall clock. It was 4:56 A.M. The Al Bhed moaned again and nudged Kimahri. The Ronso growled slightly and sat up. Rikku went to wake Wakka and Tidus up. Tidus was asleep on his stomach, blanket tucked around him. Wakka was on his side with just the sheet tangled around his hips. Rikku grinned evilly and licked Tidus' cheek.
"Gah! Rikku!!" Tidus cried, wiping his cheek. "Gross!"
Rikku giggled. That never failed to instantly wake Tidus up. The blonde glared at Rikku before rolling out of bed and getting dressed. Rikku shook Wakka's shoulder. The redhead moaned and stretched.
"Feels like I haven't slept at all..." Wakka complained, sitting up.
"That's what 5 A.M. will do to you..." Rikku replied.
Wakka yawned and put his boots on, lacing them up.
----------------------------
Rikku yawned and looked up as Luzzu and Gatta ran up to them.
"What are you guys doing here?" She asked.
"Trying to get rid of him." Luzzu said, motioning to the Ochu in the distance. "We threw our entire fleet at him, but he still didn't fall."
"Be sure you're well prepare if you're going to fight him." Gatta said.
Tidus shook his head, "None of us know black magick. We'll wait until I receive the Fire Fayth. Then we'll fight."
"Here." Luzzu handed a Hi-Potion to Rikku. "Take that. Good luck."
"Thanks Luzzu."
The two groups nodded at each other and split off. Luzzu and Gatta went to guard the Ochu and Tidus and his guardians took an alternate path to get around the Ochu. Wakka frowned slightly at Tidus. The boy was listless. Even though he had held Tidus until the blonde stopped crying and fell asleep he doubted the summoner felt any better. Rikku was worried too. Tidus wasn't himself. The Tidus she knew wouldn't wait to obtain the Fire Fayth before fighting at the Ochu. He probably wouldn't even have waited for Luzzu and Gatta's warning. But she knew why Tidus was acting the way he was. The thought of Maya still brought tears to her eyes, but she knew they'd have to try and move on if they wanted to get through this pilgrimage. It sounded cruel. It sounded cold. But they had to get over Maya's death to prevent more deaths from happening. Sin was their first priority. Everything else came second.
[I will be strong for you mother. I will mourn you before it is my time to be mourned...]
Wakka groaned as he saw the stone steps that lead up to Kilika Temple.
"You've got to be kidding me. We have to climb all these?" The redhead complained.
Tidus chuckled softly, "Sorry Wakka, but we do..."
"These steps have a history y'know. Lord Ohalland use to train on these steps every day." Rikku said.
Wakka just groaned, grumbled, and complained some more. Kimahri shook his head and started up the stairs, Rikku not far behind him.
"Uhm...thanks Wakka."
"For what?"
"For comforting me..."
Tidus smiled softly at his guardian before starting his ascent. Wakka spared a moment to smile at the blonde's back before sprinting after him. They were only on the second flight of stairs when everything trembled.
"Sinspawn!" Rikku shrieked from above.
The two men sprinted up another flight of stairs onto the first platform. A weird-looking shell had busted out of the cement bricks. The ground shook more and two "hands" burst out of the ground sending bricks and dust flying.
"Kimahri, you take the shell. Rikku: left hand, Wakka you're with me!"
The Ronso rushed the shell and slashed it with his spear. Rikku used a grenade on the left "hand", blowing it to bits. The right hand swiped at Tidus and Wakka. They managed to dodge the tentacles and Tidus cut one off. There was the sound of air rushing out of something and the shell burst open to reveal a plant-like creature. Wakka brought the right hand down with his Overdrive and the three rushed to help Kimahri. Tidus cast Nul-Tide on the group just as the Sinspawn used a Watera spell. The glowing blue sphere circling around Kimahri harmlessly gobbled up the Watera spell and Kimahri rushed the creature. He stabbed the Sinspawn while Rikku mixed a Molotov Cocktail together. Wakka tossed his blitzball at the monster's tentacles, ripping at few off. Tidus fought more tentacles off while Kimahri kept hacking away at the body.
"Stand back!" Rikku ordered.
Tidus and Kimahri ran to a safe distance. Tidus cast Nul-Blaze on the group just in case. Rikku tossed her Molotov Cocktail at the beast. It smashed against the cement and set the creature a blaze. It made a weird high pitched noise and writhed in agony. It fell to the ground, still writhing. Wakka used a water spell with his Overdrive and dosed the creature. Kimahri stabbed it in its head to put it out of its misery. The plant twitched once more before turning into pyreflies.
"Phew..." Tidus sighed. "First big fight..."
"Yeah." Rikku nodded. "C'mon! We're nearly there!"
Kimahri shook his head as Rikku ran off.
"That girl has endless energy..." Tidus mumbled.
Kilika Temple was crowded which was no surprise. Everyone was praying for their dead loved ones. Tidus stopped at a statue of High Summoner Lord Braska and performed a prayer for his mother.
[I'll make it. I'll make that step from Sir Tidus to High Summoner Lord Tidus...you have my word...]
Kimahri, Rikku, and Wakka prayed too. The double doors to the Cloister opened and a scantily clad, dark-skinned woman emerged. She smirked at Tidus.
"A summoner are you?"
Tidus nodded, "Yes."
"The son of Jecht I assume."
The blonde nodded again, his guardians gathered around him.
"Three guardians? I didn't know you were so important."
"Who are you?" Rikku sneered.
"Dona."
"I'm Tidus."
"I know." Dona snapped. "I'm just amazed your ego is so large. I have only the need for one guardian. Right Bartello?"
The large man to Dona's right nodded.
"I trust these people with my life. It has nothing to do with ego."
"Hmph."
"Listen Dona..." Rikku started.
Tidus held his hand up and Rikku quieted. "It's all right, Rikku. Not everyone is going to like me. Let's go...the Fire Fayth awaits."
Dona sneered at Tidus. The blonde ignored her and started up the steps to the Trials. Wakka frowned at Dona as he passed her but said nothing. Rikku was about to say something but Kimahri shook his head. Bartello shifted a little as Kimahri leaned down close to him. The Ronso sniffed at the man, making him jump back. Kimahri smiled a little and followed his friends into the Trials. They all piled on to the elevator and rode it to the Trials. Tidus fanned himself. It was bloody hot!
"Fire everywhere. It's like a furnace down here!" Rikku exclaimed.
"He's not called the Fire Fayth for nothing." Tidus teased.
Rikku stuck her tongue out at him. Tidus went to push the doors to the Cloister open but they burned his hands.
"Ow!" He yelped.
Rikku tended to Tidus' hands while Kimahri pushed the doors open. His paw pads were extremely tough and barely registered temperature.
"I wonder how everyone else gets by that..." Rikku wondered.
"They probably know some black magick." Tidus replied.
The Trials only took them thirty or so minutes. It wasn't long before Tidus was kneeling in front of the Fire Fayth. The blonde was face down just like the Cerberus brothers. A large flame tattoo took over his lower back and he had a giant clawed glove on his left hand. The teen took a deep breath of the stifling hot air and started to pray. A demon appeared in front of Tidus. It had massive horns on its head and a smaller set of horns on its shoulders. Tidus looked down at the Fayth. The beast before him look exactly like the piece of armor resting on the Fayth's shoulder.
"I am Ifrit. What do you wish of me?"
"I wish for you to join me. I wish to defeat Sin."
"I see that you've acquired Cerberus."
"I have..."
The Aeon looked into Tidus' eyes. "You also have lost someone close to you..."
"My mother."
"Taken by Sin."
"Yes."
Ifrit looked off into the distance then nodded, "I will join you, Summoner Tidus. What name will you summon me by?"
"Ifrit."
The Aeon looked grateful that Tidus didn't change his name and he turned translucent. Tidus braced himself as the Fayth buried into his body. It wasn't as bad as the first time, but his strength was still zapped from him. The blonde waited until Ifrit was settled into his sub conscious before getting up. His legs felt a little shaky but he managed to stay on his feet. He had only been gone for forty minutes. Rikku grinned at him when he emerged from the Chamber.
"The Fayth must really like you. It took High Summoner Lady Nani three days just to convince Cerberus to join her and Ifrit two days!" She said.
"I guess they do." Tidus smiled. "C'mon...let's go kick some Ochu ass..."
The guardians hung back, but stayed alert just in case Tidus needed them. The summoner called Ifrit and sent him after Lord Ochu. Three Fire spells and two Meteor Strikes later Ochu fell to the ground and dissolved into pyreflies. Tidus thanked then dismissed Ifrit. The group fought their way out of the jungle and just caught the boat to Luca in time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm not going to put great detail into the fights unless they're major battles. I don't consider Sinspawn and things like that major (just so you know why the fights are so thinly detailed). R&R please ^^