There was no morning sun to wake him. A particularly loud crash of thunder is what startled Tidus awake at six thirty. The blonde yawned and rubbed his face with his hands. He went to stand from bed but he ended up stepped on someone.
"Ow!" Wakka grunted.
"Oh!" Tidus cried. "I'm sorry! What are you doing on the floor? Did you fall out of bed?"
Wakka rolled onto his back and smiled, "No. I didn't want to crowd you so I slept on the floor."
Tidus chuckled, "You didn't have to, Wakka. I don't mind sharing my bed.
The guardian's cheeks colored and little. He sat up and moaned as his neck twinged painfully.
"What's wrong?" The blonde asked, stretching.
"Got a kink in my neck."
"That's what you get for sleeping on the floor. Here..."
Tidus sat on his knees behind Wakka and started massaging the redhead's neck and shoulders. The redhead moaned gratefully as the summoner popped the kinks out of his neck.
"Sorry I stepped on you." Tidus laughed.
"That's ok. As you said before, that's what I get for sleeping on the floor."
Wakka froze slightly as Tidus kissed the arm he'd stepped on.
"There. Did that make it better?" The blonde teased.
Wakka eased up a bit and he chuckled. "Yeah. It's all better now. Thanks for the massage too."
"No problem. I'm going to shower. Can you wake the others for me?"
Wakka nodded and Tidus walked into the washroom. The redhead heard the shower start and he bit his lip. It was hard not to imagine Tidus naked...and wet...
"Augh!" He cried, running from the room to wake the others.
He woke Auron, Rin, and Kimahri first then moved onto Rikku and Lulu's room. He knocked on the door until a very sleepy Lulu answered the door. Wakka cleared his throat and pretended he didn't notice the hickey on the mage's collar bone.
"Tidus is up. Get ready and meet us in the front lobby."
"Mmok..." Lulu mumbled, vanishing into the room again.
Wakka smiled to himself [Gee. I wonder why Lu is so tired...] The redhead checked to make sure Rin was out of bed before returning to his and Tidus' hotel room. His cheeks went bright red. Tidus was walking around the room in just a towel. The summoner spotted Wakka and he too turned red.
"Wakka...!"
The blonde almost dropped his towel but managed to keep a hold of it and he ran into the bathroom.
"I-i was looking for some more towels. There was only one in here." Tidus explained from behind the washroom door.
"I'll find you some." Wakka said.
"Ok."
Wakka searched around the room. He finally found some clean towels in the closet by the front door. He grabbed a few and brought them to Tidus. His cheeks were still warm with a brilliant blush. Tidus accepted the towels and said thanks.
"I'll be in the lobby, Tidus."
"Ok."
The guardian gathered up his things and left the room. He past Kimahri on his way out.
"He's just finishing up getting ready." Wakka said.
Kimahri nodded and half-smiled. Another loud crash of thunder shook the inn.
"It's really raging out there." Rikku said, joining Wakka in the hall.
"Yeah."
"What's up? You're blushing..."
"Nothing." [Except for the fact that I almost saw the hottest thing on two legs NAKED!]
"Now you're blushing more. Tell me what's up."
"I just saw Tidus in a very wet towel, ok?"
Rikku giggled, "Did you steal it off of him?"
"No...!"
"Good."
Wakka almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of Auron's voice.
"It's rude to eavesdrop." Rikku grinned at the older man.
"I know, but I'm a very rude person." Auron replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
Rikku rolled her eyes. Poor Wakka was blushing so deeply he was almost purple. Rin and Lulu were talking with Rajhel when the three entered the lobby. Wakka tossed the room key to Rajhel.
"Thanks man." Rajhel grinned.
Wakka smiled back.
"I've been talking with Rin." Lulu spoke up. "And we think he'd make a good guardian."
"What?" Auron blinked.
"Well he's very gifted with the Nunchaku which is good for taking out those swift four-legged fiends and such. He also knows a great deal of status ailment spells."
Auron thoughtfully scratched the stubble on his chin as he looked Rin over. The blonde felt himself blushing under the other man's gaze and he self consciously fidgeted with his shirt.
"Ask Tidus. It's not my call, but it does sound like a good idea." Auron finally said.
Ten minutes ticked by before Tidus and Kimahri walked into the lobby. Tidus thanked Rajhel for his hospitality before joining his guardians. Kimahri frowned at Tidus. The boy had told Kimahri to wait for him in the hallway. When the summoner had finally emerged from the room he seemed listless and distant.
"All right. Let's go." Tidus said softly.
"Actually, uh, Sir Tidus. I wanted to ask you if I could become your guardian." Rin said.
Tidus looked over at Rin and smiled slightly, "If that is what you wish then I consent."
"Thanks Tidus. I promise you won't regret it."
Tidus' smile grew slightly and he nodded at his large group of guardians. "Now we can go."
Rikku frowned worriedly at Tidus and walked beside the blonde. She took a hold of his hand and squeezed gently. Tidus squeezed back but didn't look at Rikku. This told the girl that something was bothering him. They paired off again: Tidus and Rikku, Lulu and Rin, Auron, Kimahri, and Wakka as they ran from tower to tower. Tidus cried out in pain as a fiend's Thunder spell struck him in the face. Rikku returned fire by mixing a Flash Flood and the summoner healed his face with a Cura spell.
"Wakie wakie Tidus!" Auron called.
Rikku shot a worried look at the teen but he only smiled. They were almost out of the Thunder Plains when Tidus stopped.
"C'mon! We're almost out!" Rikku exclaimed.
Tidus shook his head. "I need to tell you something."
"Now?"
"Now."
Rikku looked around. She spotted a sort-of building and lead Tidus over to it. The rest of the group exchanged confused glances before following.
"Why are we stopping? We're almost out." Rin asked.
"I've decided." Tidus said quietly.
Everyone went silent.
"I...am excepting Seymour's proposal."
Wakka couldn't stop himself, "What!?"
"Does that mean you're not journeying anymore?" Lulu asked.
Tidus shook his head, "I will continue my pilgrimage, but the people of Spira need some joy. The Guado and Spiran joining once again will give them something happy to talk about."
Wakka bit his tongue to stop himself from saying more. Rikku sat beside her life-time friend and wrapped one arm around him.
"If it's truly what you want then I stand behind you one hundred percent."
Tidus nodded and Rikku gave him a little hug. Wakka's insides were twisting with jealously and disbelief.
[The only reason he's marrying Seymour is because it's his "duty"!? And no one has even asked him if he even likes Seymour...!]
"Well. Shall we continue on then?" Auron asked.
Wakka glared at Auron. Auron gave him a "See? I told you not to fall in love with him" look in return. Tidus slowly stood and the group left the raging Thunder Plains behind them. Tidus shivered and Kimahri brought the teen close to him. The Macalania Woods were chilly. A few snowflakes fell from the sky once in awhile. Auron hung back as the group went on ahead. Wakka knew the man wanted to talk to him.
"Yeah. I know. Keep your trap shut, Wakka." Wakka sighed.
Auron gave him a sympathetic look. "That's not it. There's something different about Tidus."
"Yeah. I noticed."
"Stay close to him. He's planning something..."
"O-ok..."
Auron nodded and the two jogged after the group. They made their way along the giant tree branches that made up the path to Macalania Lake, slaying any fiends that got in their way. Wakka stole glances at Tidus once in awhile. The blonde seemed to be in another world. His blue eyes were blank slates. They finally reached Lake Macalania. A cold, bitter wind and a flurry of snow howled around the group and they huddled together. Clasko and his chocobo were standing outside the inn.
"Hey Clasko!" Rikku grinned.
"Hey Rikku."
"What're you doing here?"
"Just resting. We'll continue on to the Calm Lands soon."
Rikku nodded and turned towards the path that lead down to the lake, expecting everyone to follow. Instead Tidus sighed and slowly walked into the inn. Everyone exchanged glances but followed Tidus anyway. They entered the inn in time to see the clerk hand Tidus a room key. He thanked her and walked off.
"Why are we stopping here?" Lulu asked. "Didn't we just get started?"
"Something is bothering him. We wait here until he's ready to go." Auron replied.
Everyone sighed and settled in for the wait. Wakka made sure that neither Kimahri nor Auron was watching him before he went to find Tidus. The redhead made his way down the hallway.
"Please. I implore whoever finds this. Stop him."
Wakka frowned, [What is that?]
The guardian leaned against the door to listen but it fell open and Wakka tumbled into the room. Tidus gasped as the redhead fell at his feet and turned the movie sphere off.
"Wakka...what...?"
Wakka turned bright red and sat up, "I-i'm sorry, Tidus. I was just concerned about you and..."
Tidus smiled slightly, "I appreciate your concern, Wakka but I'm ok. I'm just feeling a little ill. I think I must've caught a cold from going from the cold rain into the cold snow.
Wakka nodded, mumbled more apologies, and rushed from the room. He joined his friends but none of them seem to notice that he'd left in the first place. Thirty minutes went by before Tidus emerged and gave the clerk the room key back.
"Ok. Let's go." He said quietly.
The group left and was greeted by Tromell.
"Ah. I heard that you were here. Welcome Sir Tidus."
"I have an answer for Maester Seymour." Tidus said. "But...I have one question to ask."
"Yes?"
"If I marry...will the Maester allow me to continue my pilgrimage?"
"I'm sure Maester Seymour would want nothing more than for you to continue your journey. Come, I will take you to him."
Tidus nodded and stepped forward, his guardians followed.
"By Guado tradition I must escort Tidus to the Maester alone. One of the Maester's guardians will fetch you later."
Tidus nodded and smiled at his guardians before following Tromell down the path to the lake. Rikku sighed and looked at Wakka. The redhead was frowning. Suddenly the air was filled with odd motor noises and Tidus and Tromell found themselves surrounded by Al Bhed on weird-looking machines.
"Al Bhed!" Wakka exclaimed, running off.
Tidus reared back as an Al Bhed grabbed at him. Rikku jumped on the nearest Al Bhed attacker, knocking him off his machine and into the snow. She raised her fist to punch him but he sputtered,
"Rik-ku!"
She froze and pulled the mask from the man's face. Her frown faded.
"...Aniki...?"
Kimahri growled and pulled an Al Bhed from his snow sled.
"Thank-you!" Tromell shouted at the guardians before dragging Tidus off.
Something fell from Tidus' carrier and landed in the snow. Most of the Al Bhed took off. Only the Al Bhed Rikku had identified as Aniki and a shorter female Al Bhed stayed behind.
"Oui'ja vyemat du lybdina dra Summoner dfela, Lulu. Yht huf drnaa desac. E ryja uhmo vyemat uhla." Aniki said. (You've failed to capture the Summoner twice, Lulu. And now three times. I have only failed once.)
Rikku looked at Lulu, [Lulu was behind this all along!?]
Aniki went to leave but Rin shouted at him, "Yht oui femm gaab vyemehk, Aniki! Dra Summoner'c kiynteyhc yna duu cgemmat vun oui." (And you will keep failing, Aniki! The Summoner's guardians are too skilled for you.)
"Rin yht E ryja palusa rec kiynteyhc. Dryd ec ymm fa lyh tu. Bnudald res po rec ceta." Lulu added. (Rin and I have become his guardians. That is all we can do. Protect him by his side.)
"Veha, pid E's dammehk Cid ypuid drec." Aniki replied, walking off with the other Al Bhed. (Fine, but I'm telling Cid about this.)
"What was that all about?" Wakka demanded.
"A case of mistaken identity. They were bounty hunters." Lulu replied.
"Yeah." Rikku nodded.
Before more questions could be asked Rin spoke up.
"Hey! I found something!"
The group crowded around Rin who had picked a movie sphere out of the snow.
"Tidus must've dropped it." Rin said.
"Let's see what it is." Auron replied, taking the sphere from Rin.
The older man turned the sphere on. A 3-D image of Jyscal popped up.
"I will leave this world soon." The image said. "But not by pure causes. I will leave this world by the hands of my own son, Seymour."
Everyone's eyes widened a bit.
"But do not blame him." The image continued. "He has gone mad and it is all my fault. I should have protected him and his mother from the cruelties of the world. I accept my death as punishment. But, please. Stop my son before he destroys himself and many others. Please. I implore whoever finds this. Stop him..."
The image faded away and the sphere clicked off.
"Tidus!" Kimarhi growled, grabbing the sphere from Auron and taking off.
"C'mon! Let's go! We gotta save Tidus!" Rikku ordered, jumping onto a snow sled.
Lulu hopped on behind Rikku. Rin and Auron took another and Wakka had already sped off.
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Dun, dun, dun.... R&R Please ^^;;