Everyone stood in shocked silence for a few moments. Lulu was the first to speak up.

"Won't Yevonites have a fit?" She asked.

Seymour shook his head, "The Yevonites have nothing against homosexuality. I wish to bring nothing but happiness to Tidus. I admit that I've become quite smitten with him."

Tidus' cheeks turned bright red.

"I-i need some time to think..." Tidus replied.

"Of course, Sir Tidus. Take all the time you need."

"Tidus. We should get going." Auron said.

"I will await your favorable reply..." Seymour grinned.

Tidus turned a darker red and Luzzu escorted him out. Kimahri and Wakka followed closely behind. Rikku raised a curious eyebrow at the Maester before heading out. Lulu, Rin, and Auron were the last to leave. Tidus sat down outside the mansion.

"You're not actually thinking of saying yes are you?" Wakka asked, trying to keep the sneer out of his tone.

"Jealous?" Rikku grinned.

"What!? No!" The redhead snapped, turning red.

"Kimahri doesn't like Seymour." Kimahri said.

"Kimahri! Shh!" Tidus gasped. "Not so loud...!"

"Are you seriously thinking about his proposal?" Lulu asked.

"I...don't know." Tidus replied. "I need to go to the Farplane. I want to see my mother..."

The guardians nodded and they headed for the Farplane.

"Have fun." Lulu said, sitting on the steps to the Farplane.

"You're not coming?" Rikku asked.

"I like to keep my memories inside..." Lulu replied.

"And I do not believe those pyreflies are my dead loved ones..." Rin added, sitting beside Lulu.

"We'll be fine. Take your time." Auron said, leaning against the wall.

"You're not coming either, Auron?" Tidus asked.

"No. I'm not."

Tidus shrugged and walked through the shiny portal into the Farplane with Luzzu. Kimahri and Wakka followed them. Rikku took one last look at the others before following her friends. The blonde looked around, her mouth dropping open. She'd never been to the Farplane before. It was beautiful! But kinda noisy. All those pyreflies made a lot of noise! Luzzu was looking at quite a few people: his little sister, his parents, and Gatta. She looked over to see Tidus and Kimahri staring at Tidus' mom. The teen smiled sadly at the image. People had often mistook Mrs. Spardas to be Rikku's mother. Maya had blonde hair and the most stunning green eyes. Her hair was quite similar to Rikku's with all its braids and colored beads. In fact, it was Maya who taught Rikku how to style her hair. The girl reached up to touch the silk bandanna in her hair. It had been a birthday gift from Maya for her seventeenth birthday. Rikku shook her head and went to stand beside Wakka. He was looking at an image of a young red-haired boy and a woman with long black hair.

"Chappu and Rayna?" Rikku asked.

Wakka nodded, "Yes. Hey...Rik?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't think Tidus will actually marry...do you?"

"I don't know. It would give Spira something to be happy about. The human and Guado race joined once again..."

Wakka grimaced, "What if Tidus doesn't even like the guy?"

"I don't really think this has to do with like...or love for that matter...on Tidus' behalf anyway. Tidus is a summoner. Part of a summoner's job is to keep the people of Spira joyful and happy..."

"Hmph..." Wakka snorted.

"But...if Tidus did want to marry for love...he'd totally have my blessing..."

"So if he loves Seymour you have no problem with them marrying?"

Rikku smirked, "Who said anything about Seymour...?"

Wakka blinked, his eyes going slightly wide. Rikku giggled and walked off. She stood a little ways away from Tidus and thought about her parents. Neither showed up.

[Well...at least they're still alive...]

She decided to let Luzzu be and closed the gap between her and Tidus.

"I've decided..." Tidus said quietly. "Take your time, Wakka." He said a bit louder.

Wakka nodded and Tidus walked over to Luzzu.

"Will you be all right, Luzzu?"

"Yes. I'll escort you out...then I'm heading back to Besaid."

Tidus nodded and smiled slightly. Rikku watched as Tidus, Luzzu, and Kimahri left the Farplane. She was about to go bug Wakka some more when suddenly some pyreflies formed into Lord Jyscal...!

"Tidus!" She shouted, running off. "Tidus!"

Wakka's eyes widened as Jyscal stumbled forward, moaning in agony. The redhead turned and ran after Rikku. Auron looked up and frowned as Rikku and Wakka came sailing out of the Farplane at a hundred miles per hour.

"Please. This is a sacred place! No running!" A Guado scolded.

"L-lord Jyscal!" Rikku panted, pointing behind her.

On cue, Lord Jyscal tried to push his way through the portal. Wakka and Rikku backed down the stairs as Tidus climbed them.

"Lord Jyscal." He whispered in shock.

"He is Lord Jyscal no more. Send him, Tidus." Auron ordered.

Tidus nodded and unsheathed his sword. He sent the former Maester, watching his pyreflies get sucked back into the Farplane. There was a clank sound and Tidus looked down to see the specter had dropped a movie sphere. The blonde bent over, picked the sphere up, and stuffed it into his carrier.

"Come on. Let's go." Auron said, walking off.

Tidus and the others followed the impatient swordsman.

"Wouldn't someone that important get a Sending?" Rin asked.

"I think he was sent once..." Luzzu replied.

"It means...he died an unclean death." Auron added. "Also, Tidus, don't bother dwelling on this. Jyscal is the Guado's problem. Not ours."

Tidus nodded but didn't say anything. Chills tickled his spine. He walked up to Seymour's house but two guards stopped him.

"Lord Seymour is not home. No one is allowed inside until the Maester returns."

"What? Where'd he go?" Rikku demanded.

"Macalania Temple." The purple-haired guard replied.

"He left this suddenly...without telling anyone else." Lulu said, sounding skeptical.

"That's correct." The green-haired Guado replied.

"Well. We're heading there anyway. Let's go..." Tidus sighed.

"Through the Thunder Plains..." Rikku groaned.

Tidus grinned, "Yup. Sorry Rikku. Looks like you're going to get wet."

Luzzu escorted Tidus to the entrance to the Thunder Plains. After hugging Tidus and Rikku and shaking everyone else's hand, the redhead was on his way back to Besaid. The rest of the group followed the short tunnel to the Thunder Plains. It was pouring harder than usual on the Thunder Plains. Lightning streaked across the sky. Everyone jumped back as a huge bolt struck the ground a few meters away.

"Uber-freaky!!" Rikku squealed, clinging to Lulu.

"We'll go in groups of two. Stay close to the lightning towers." Tidus said. "Don't stay in one place for too long..."

Rikku whimpered and nodded. Lulu took a hold of the girl's hand and they were off, running like mad for the first tower. Rin looked at Auron.

"Don't expect me to hold your hand." The Al Bhed said.

"Funny..." Auron smirked. "I was about to say the same thing."

Rin laughed and the two men followed Lulu and Rikku's path. The two women were already making their way to the third tower. Kimahri grabbed Tidus' hand and Tidus grabbed Wakka's hand. They ran from tower to tower.

"Travel Agency-ho!" Rikku shouted, pointing. "Shall we stop and rest??"

Tidus didn't realize just how tired he was until Rikku mentioned "rest".

"Yes! We'll spend the night!"

"It's only six o'clock!" Auron shouted over the noise of the thunder.

"I know! It's about time we had a decent meal!" Tidus shouted back.

Auron nodded and the groups took turns running like hell for the Travel Agency. Rikku screamed as lightning struck the ground only centimeters away from her.

"Rikku!" Tidus called. "Are you ok!?"

"I'm fine!!"

Rikku used a Potion to heal the burns the heat from the lightning had caused. They burst into the Travel Agency. Rajhel looked up from his work.

"You two look like drown rats." He grinned.

"Gee. Thanks." Lulu growled. "By the way. We met Rin at the Moonflow. It seems your brother had a little run-in with some fiends. He needs a new weapon..."

Rikku didn't notice Rajhel's look of surprise and slight confusion before he spoke.

"Is that so? Poor Rin has been having the worst luck as of late."

Auron and Rin were next in the door.

[I hope you clued him in, Lulu...] Rin thought.

"Hey bro! Heard you got your ass kicked by some 'fiends'." Rajhel said.

"They caught me by surprise." Rin answered.

Kimahri, Wakka, and Tidus ran in. Kimahri shook the water from his fur.

"We need food and sleep, Rajhel." Rikku groaned, wringing the water from her braids.

"No problem. I have a room with three singles and two rooms with doubles."

"I claim a single." Rin said.

"Kimahri too." Kimahri said.

Rikku nudged Auron. The man grunted. "Me too."

"Double!" Rikku exclaimed, grinning.

"Please. Allow me to pay you this time. There's more people in my group now." Tidus offered.

Rajhel shook his head. "You could have twenty guardians and I'd still let you stay for free. Besides you have to buy dinner from the café, I'll make some money that way."

"You're sure?" Tidus asked.

Rajhel nodded, "Yes. Positive. Enjoy your stay."

Tidus smiled as Rajhel handed them their room keys before returning to his work.

"I don't know about you guys, but I need an oriental noodle salad and some wontons." Rikku said, heading for the café.

"Food sounds good!" Tidus smirked, following his friend.

"Ribs..." Kimahri growled happily, licking his lips.

The hungry group practically stormed the café. The poor kitchen staff had never worked so fast. Once they all had their meals the group began to eat and talk about nothing in particular. Rikku made a few cracks about the weather and everyone laughed. Tidus watched Wakka eat his spaghetti. He laughed as Wakka tried to slurp a noodle into his mouth and just ended up getting whacked in the face with it. The summoner reached across the table and wiped the line of spaghetti sauce off Wakka's face. The redhead blushed and nodded his thanks. Tidus smiled back shyly and continued to eat his fries. When they were done they paid for their meals and left a huge tip for the waitress and the kitchen staff.

"I'm going to see Rajhel about a new Nunchaku." Rin said, walking off.

"I need a shower." Rikku announced.

"Me too." Lulu grinned, following her companion.

"Oh my..." Tidus blushed.

Auron grunted, turning slightly red. "Anyway...I'm not feeling that energetic. I'm going to bed."

"Kimahri needs Phoenix Downs and then Kimahri going to bed."

"All right." Tidus replied, standing on tip-toes to kiss Kimahri's nose. "G'night Kimahri."

The Ronso nodded then looked at Wakka. "Kimahri trusts Tidus with Wakka."

Wakka nodded and the cat walked off.

"So? What would you like to do, Tidus?"

"Let's go see our room."

"Ok."

Tidus smiled and the duo walked to 6A. The blonde unlocked the door and walked in.

"Wow. Nice..." Wakka said, whistling.

Tidus nodded and looked out the window at the lightning.

"Wow. I never realized how beautiful it can be when it's not trying to fry you..." Tidus murmured.

"Yeah. Beautiful." Wakka agreed, not looking at the lightning.

Tidus started to turn and the redhead immediately pretended he was watching the lightning too.

"Want to lightning watch, Wakka?"

"Sure."

Tidus smiled and sat on the bed. Wakka sat beside him and wrapped the comforter around both of them. They'd been watching the lightning for an hour when Tidus leaned against his shoulder.

"Tidus?" He asked softly.

No answer. The blonde was fast asleep. Wakka smiled and gently tucked Tidus into bed. He grabbed the extra pillow and a blanket and made himself comfortable on the floor.

"'Night Tidus." He whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awwww. Wakka's being all gentlemanly-like. How cute XD R&R please.