Tidus went to stand by Kimahri, head hung.
"So what do we do now?" Lulu asked.
"We wait." Tidus replied quietly.
"You look troubled, Sir Tidus. Is anything wrong?" A smooth male voice asked.
Tidus almost forgot to turn around before performing Yevon's prayer. The rest of his guardians, except Lulu, followed suit. Seymour smirked at Lulu.
"Al Bhed I assume."
Lulu nodded and Seymour turned his attention back to Tidus. He trailed his eyes up the entire length of Tidus' body before speaking.
"As I was saying, is something troubling you...?"
"Well..." Tidus looked over his shoulder at the gates.
The Maester nodded, "I see..."
Seymour and his two guardians walked up to the female Crusader.
"Let Summoner Tidus and his guardians pass."
"B-but Maester Seymour. Maester Seymour sir..."
"It's all right. I will take full responsibility."
"O-ok..."
Seymour turned to Tidus and his crew. "You may pass now."
"Thank-you." Tidus replied.
The blonde bowed until Seymour and his guardians were out of sight.
Wakka snorted, "Just who does he think he is?"
"All the Maesters have swelled egos. Well except Kelk and Mika."
Tidus looked at Wakka briefly before heading to the gates.
"Let's go." The summoner said quietly.
The guardians followed and, as Seymour promised, the Crusader let them through. Tidus stopped to look out at the greyish ocean. It started to drizzle a little but he didn't seem to mind.
"C'mon Tidus. We'll get wet." Rikku complained.
Tidus nodded and started walking. The path branched off. They could go straight or left.
"Which way do we go? Lulu asked.
"Straight." Tidus replied.
They were blocked off by Clasko.
"Begging your pardon Summoner Tidus but Maester Seymour has requested your presence at the Command Center."
"What? Why?" Wakka asked.
Clasko shrugged, "Beats me."
Tidus shrugged, "Ok. We'll head over to the command center."
"Take the left. There's a lift at the end of the ravine." Clasko replied.
Tidus nodded and his guardians followed him into the ravine. Both Wakka and Kimahri flanked around Tidus. Lulu and Rikku giggled at the scene and the summoner blushed a little.
"It's ok you guys..."
The group squished onto the tiny lift and fought their way along the rain-slick rock paths of Mushroom Rock. Tidus watched as Lulu destroyed a Red Element with a Blizzara spell. The blonde sighed and looked around for other things. He had this feeling in the pit of his gut that something was going to go horribly wrong.
"Tidus? You ok?" Rikku asked.
"Yeah..."
Ten minutes later the group came upon another lift. This one made by the Al Bhed instead of the Yevonites.
"Know how to use this, Lu?" Wakka asked.
Lulu nodded, "Everyone get on."
The group followed Lulu's orders and she activated the U-shaped lift. The were deposited on one of Mushroom Rock's elevated beaches. The whole beach was lined with Al Bhed cannons. Seymour was surveying the workers and soldiers, smiling. Wakka made a weird growling noise and walked up to Seymour.
"I hope he's not planning to deck him..." Rikku whispered to Lulu.
"Maester Seymour. Using these kind of contraptions is against Yevon. Why are you here...that is...why are you supporting this??" Wakka half-asked, half-demanded.
"The Al Bhed simply want to help the best way they can. I am here to support the destruction of Sin, not the machina."
"B-but the machina..." Wakka swept his hand in the direction of the cannons.
"Pretend you didn't see them." Seymour replied, smirking.
Tidus looked up at Seymour. Stunned that the Maester would say such a thing. Lulu and Rikku exchanged wide-eyed glances and Kimahri's features took on a deadly frown.
"Pardon me, sir...but I don't really think that's something a Maester should say..." The redhead said quietly.
"Then pretend I didn't say it. The command center is just over there. Join me will you."
With a wink in Tidus' direction the Guado nodded at Wakka and walked off with his guardians. Tidus went to stand beside Wakka. The guardian looked at him.
"You're right, Tidus. This won't work..."
"Then I'll be here to help..." Tidus murmured, following Seymour.
Kimahri proceeded after Tidus. Wakka sighed.
"You've got some balls there mister." Rikku grinned. "Questioning a Maester like that."
"I think Tidus was impressed." Lulu added.
Wakka blushed, "Ah shaddup..."
Rikku and Lulu laughed. Wakka blushed a deeper red and walked off. Tidus could see Gatta standing outside the command center. As he approached the teen looked up and half-frowned.
"Uhm...are you ok?" Tidus asked.
"No. I'm not. I'm stuck guarding the command center. This sucks. I should be on the front lines with Luzzu."
Tidus went pale, "Luzzu's on the front lines?"
Gatta nodded, "Lucky bastard."
Tidus took on a spaced-out look and slowly walked into the command center. Kimahri readied his spear before following his summoner.
"Guarding the command center is important too ya know." Wakka said.
"Yeah, yeah..." Gatta grumbled, walking off.
Wakka, Lulu, and Rikku entered the center. They were greeted by Kinoc and his bodyguards.
"Welcome. You must be Summoner Tidus' guardians."
"That's us." Rikku grinned.
Wakka and Rikku did Yevon's prayer. Lulu nodded her head slightly.
"Be prepared. Things might get dangerous once Sin arrives."
The trio nodded and readied their weapons. Tidus stood in the light rain, watching the ocean. Kimahri stood ever vigilant beside him, only moving to shake the water from his fur. The two were joined by the rest of the group. Tidus smiled slightly when he felt Wakka's hand touch the small of his back. He looked at his redheaded guardian and smiled sadly. Wakka half-smiled back.
****************
Auron sunk his katana into the wet sand and watched the ocean. The twinge in his chest told him that Sin was close. He looked around at all the people that were going to die. He had already tried telling a number of them to take off before they were killed but they just looked at him funny.
[No one will believe me until it is too late. Then they'll wish they had listened to the crazy bastard wearing his sunglasses in the rain...]
The warrior looked over at the cliff that the command center was on.
[Tidus...I hope you have good guardians...]
*****************
The caged Sinspawn started going nuts.
"Sin is close! Prepare the troops!" Kinoc ordered.
Tidus' body stiffened as Sin appeared on the horizon. The Sinspawn's cage rocked back and forth violently as the fiends tried to free themselves. Wakka felt Tidus' hand slip into his and he gave it a reassuring squeeze.
****************
Auron watched as scorpion-like Sinspawn started emerging from the ocean.
"FIRE!" Someone on the cliff above ordered.
Auron barely winced as the cannons went off simultaneously. The ground shook and small debris fell from the cliffs. The swordsman dusted his coat off before rushing at the nearest Sinspawn.
*****************
Rikku covered her ears as the cannons went off. The ground trembled beneath the group's feet. The cage of Sinspawn fell from the cliff and crashed onto the beach below. The Al Bhed soldier's and the Crusaders started to quickly reload the cannons. Suddenly Sin stopped, everything was quiet. Tidus broke away from his guardians to stand at the cliff. He felt a very familiar aura radiating from the giant beast.
"Look out!" Someone screamed.
"Run!!" Another person shouted.
Tidus watched in horror as Sin shot a powerful energy wave at the beach below. Almost everyone in its path was obliterated on the spot. Those left were powerless against the Sinspawn still on the beach.
"NO! LUZZU!!" Tidus screamed.
Before anyone could stop him Tidus started making his way down the cliff.
"Tidus! Come back!" Rikku shrieked.
Wakka grabbed his blitzball and started down the cliff after Tidus. Kimahri also tried to follow but the cannons going off again knocked him off balance. Rikku and Lulu screamed and clung to each other as Sin sent another energy wave at another beach. The wave impacted harshly into a huge Al Bhed machina. The machina exploded and a huge after shock ripped through the air, knocking everyone off their feet. Lulu looked around.
"Where in the hell is that Kinoc guy!?" She demanded.
"I don't know!" Rikku replied.
*****************
Tidus ran along the beach, killing any Sinspawn in sight. Someone screamed and he turned to see a Sinspawn dragging a Crusader into the water.
"Hang on!!" Tidus called.
The blonde rushed to the man's aid, sinking Liquid Steel into the spawn's head.
"Thank-you." The man said.
"You're welcome. Did you see Luzzu anywhere down here?"
"No. Sorry."
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. Go. Look for him."
Tidus nodded and ran off again. The further he ran down the beach the worse the devastation got. Suddenly he was knocked onto his stomach. The blonde struggled and turned over on his back to find himself face-to-face with a Sinspawn. The fiend opened its jaws wide to chomp down on Tidus' head. The blonde wedged his sword into the monster's jaws. Tidus screamed in pain as the beast's stinger stabbed into his shoulder, almost going right through. The fiend injected Tidus with his venom and the summoner's world started to go black.
"Argh!" Someone screamed.
The Sinspawn was suddenly cut in half and it faded into pyreflies. Before Tidus blacked out he saw a familiar man hovering over him.
[Sir...Auron...?]
Tidus' eyes closed and he blacked out. Auron cursed and searched his coat for an Antidote. He didn't have any.
"Here!" A redhead said, running up with an Antidote. "I'm his guardian."
Auron nodded and took the antidote from the redhead. He gave it to Tidus. The cannons went off again and Auron looked over to see Sin retreating back to the sea.
"C'mon...." Auron ordered.
Wakka nodded and picked Tidus up. He followed the man along the beach.
-----------------------------
Thirty minutes had gone by since Sin had left. Tidus was still unconscious. Yuna was down on the beaches performing Sendings. Rikku sighed. She was sitting cross-legged on the ground with Tidus' head in her lap. Kimahri was sitting beside her, shielding them from the rain. The man that had introduced himself as Auron was leaning against a tree not too far away, watching everyone. Wakka and Lulu had gone to see if they could find any of their friends. Rikku looked up as Maester Seymour approached, concern on his face.
"Is Summoner Tidus all right?"
"He'll be fine. The Antidote is still breaking the venom down." Rikku replied.
"I'm sorry to rush off but Guadosalam is expecting me. Do drop by for a visit when you pass through Guadosalam..."
"We will." The blonde promised. [Wakka's going to deck me for making that promise...]
As soon as Maester Seymour had left Wakka and Lulu walked up.
"Gatta's dead...and we couldn't find Luzzu." Wakka reported sadly.
Lulu sat beside Rikku and rested her head on the girl's shoulder. The redheaded guardian looked over at Auron then walked over to the man.
"So...you're the legendary Auron, huh?"
Auron grunted.
"Thanks for helping out."
"No problem..."
"Mmm? Rikku?" Tidus' voice murmured.
Wakka turned and rushed over to the blonde's side. Rikku smiled and stroked the summoner's hair.
"Hi there. How do you feel?"
"Ok..."
Everyone helped Tidus sit then stand up. He wavered on his feet a bit but Rikku and Kimahri steadied him.
"Well the Sendings are completed." Yuna said, walking by the group. "Thanks for the help, Tidus."
"Shut up." Rikku growled. "Tidus was injured ok??"
Yuna just laughed and shook her head. Varian didn't even look at the group as he past.
"And yet again I was no help to anybody..." Tidus muttered.
"That's not true, Tidus..." Rikku replied.
"It is."
"Now that you're awake. I need to talk to you." Auron interrupted.
Kimahri growled.
"It's ok, Kimahri. This is Auron. Don't you remember him?"
The Ronso sniffed slightly at Auron then slightly nodded his head.
"I'll bring him right back." Auron said to Wakka.
Kimahri looked at Wakka. Wakka blushed.
"Why do you want to talk to me?" Tidus asked once he and Auron were far from the group.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Auron asked.
"W-what?"
"Jecht..."
Tidus didn't reply verbally. He only nodded.
"Sin is Jecht."
Tidus' head snapped up. "What!? My old man is..."
"...Is Sin..."
Tidus felt like his world had caved in around him.
"I'm sorry Tidus. But I thought it best that I tell you now instead of you finding out at a critical moment and becoming emotional..."
"What? Me? Emotional?" Tidus teased weakly, his eyes brimming with tears.
Auron gave the teenager a brief hug. "I'm starting to dislike Yevon. Can I tag along?"
The summoner blinked, "Y-you want to be...my guardian?"
Auron nodded, "Do you accept?"
"I-i...sure...you may join us."
"Good. Now come along. Let's round up your other guardians and head for Djose Temple..."
After they had done just that they started walking the trail to Djose Temple. Only a few wounded Crusaders were slowly limping along the trail. There were no Al Bhed soldiers in sight. Tidus cast a worried glance at Lulu. The mage seemed to be in another world, but Rikku had a hold of her hand and moved her around various obstacles. Auron was walking way ahead of the group. Tidus ran to catch up with him. Wakka swallowed nervously as Kimahri looked over his shoulder at him again. Suddenly the Ronso stopped. The other guardian stopped too.
"Wakka went after Tidus without hesitation. Kimahri respects Wakka."
Wakka smiled, "Thanks Kimahri."
Kimahri nodded and motioned for Wakka to walk beside him, which the redhead did.
--------------------------
When they finally arrived at the temple Yuna was in the Chamber so they'd probably have to wait until morning for their turn. Tidus went off to cure the wounded and Send the dead. A nun took the guardians to the second level where there were some free beds. Another summoner and his guardian were sitting on one bed, talking.
"Ah, hello there." The summoner said, smiling. "My name is Isaaru."
"I'm Rikku. This is Lulu and Kimahri."
"Wakka." Wakka smiled.
"Auron." Auron grunted, walking off.
"I'm Maroda." Isaaru's guardian said.
Everyone shook hands and Rikku helped Lulu to a bed. She helped the woman into bed. Lulu gripped onto her hand.
"Please...stay with me..."
Rikku nodded and snuggled into bed with the mage. Kimahri went downstairs to guard Tidus and Wakka sat on the bed across from Isaaru's.
"Did you hear?" Maroda asked.
"What?" Wakka replied.
"Summoners have been disappearing. Dona and Bartello have vanished."
"What?" Rikku sounded shocked but she didn't sit up.
Isaaru nodded, "They never made it to the Shoopuf. Their chocobos were found by the riverside."
"Creepy..." The redhead shivered.
"Guard your summoner well." Maroda said.
"No problems there."
*******************
Tidus' eyes widened as a Crusader limped into the side room.
"Luzzu!!"
"Tidus!"
The blonde ran to Luzzu, placing dozens of kisses on the redhead's cheeks. "You're alive!"
"Barely..." Luzzu joked. "But Gatta...he...he...must've snuck away from his post."
"I heard. I'm so sorry Luzzu..."
"Damn it!" Luzzu suddenly shouted.
Tidus backed away and Kimahri ran up beside the blonde.
"I should have listened to you, Tidus! You told me it wouldn't work! I should've listened!!"
"Oh Luzzu..."
The summoner hugged his friend tight and let the redhead cry on him.
-------------------------------
It was around eleven when Tidus had finished helping everyone. Kimahri had taken Luzzu upstairs to bed an hour ago. The redhead was going to accompany them to Guadosalam. The summoner yawned and stood on stiff legs. Yuna was still in the Chamber of the Fayth. The blonde slowly climbed upstairs to see that every bed was full. He shrugged and went to find Rikku, but she was cuddled up with Lulu. There were two men Tidus didn't recognize in two other beds. Wakka, Kimahri, Luzzu, and Auron were sleeping on the rest.
"Tidus..."
The blonde jumped as someone whispered his name. He saw Wakka sit up.
"Is that you, Tidus?" He whispered.
"Yes." The summoner whispered back, walking closer.
"You can have my bed."
Tidus shook his head, "I don't want to put you out. I'll just go cuddle up with Luzzu."
Jealousy twinged inside Wakka. "Cuddle up with me."
The teen turned, "What?"
Wakka was glad that it was dark so Tidus didn't see the lovely shade of deep scarlet he had turned. "Y-you can...sleep with me."
"That's all right, Wakka. I don't want to crowd you either..."
The redhead inwardly sighed in disappointment as Tidus made his way over to Luzzu's bed. He heard the two whispering to each other then the rustle of the sheets as Tidus slipped into bed. Wakka growled softly to himself and put the pillow over his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aww. Wakka's all jealous. How cute ^^ R&R Please.