Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned here. They are the rightful property of Square Enix.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this so far, as you have encouraged me to write this chapter in between my studies. It may, however, seem a little rushed, but I will make every effort to prevent that. Thank you again.

Enjoy the chapter,

icedragon6171

Saviour No More

Chapter 4 – Running

The airship erupted into chaos.

"What's going on?" Paine asked, her usual frown placed firmly upon her brow. "Why the rush?" Rikku hovered at her elbow, the same question in her eyes.

Tidus held up his wrists in answer, showing the warrior the bonds which he hadn't had time to remove in their hurry to leave the blitzball stadium. The skin beneath was chafed red raw.

"You were arrested?" Rikku said, incredulously. "What for?"

Yuna joined the three from where she had been standing, sentinel-like, over Brother. She looked ten years older with worry.

"Baralai is… dead." She said, her voice wavering. She gulped and continued, "They believed Tidus responsible, and put him under custody until the Bevelle authorities arrived, to take him to his trial…" She stopped when she saw Paine's mask crumble, and wrapped her in an empathetic embrace. Paine, however, unwound Yuna's arms from her shoulders, and turned her red-eyed glare onto Tidus. Paine and Baralai had been close.

"Who did it?" Paine asked, her voice bordering on dangerous, pitch rising. "Did you do it?"

Tidus shrank under her fierce gaze, but refused to break eye contact. "I didn't do it, Paine. I don't know who did…" He related the tale, and, thankfully, felt Paine's hostility towards him ebb.

"We have to hide for a while…" Yuna said, slowly.

"Why not stay here?" Rikku asked, trying to sound cheerful in the face of the tragedy. Unfortunately, no-one seemed to take comfort in her positive demeanour.

"It's too obvious." Paine said, answering for the other two. "And we're only one airship. Should they send a fleet we would be hopelessly outmatched."

"Besaid?" Said Tidus.

"No. If cornered, there's nowhere to escape to."

"How about Bikanel?" Rikku suggested. "The Al Bhed will put you up, for sure!"

"The Al Bhed are still unstable from the fiend attack a few months ago."

The bridge fell silent, but for the dim whine of the engines below them. Nobody could think of a suitable place in which Yuna and Tidus would be safe, at least until the fury of Bevelle had waned a little. Paine had a reason for the unsuitability of each place they mentioned. Finally, Buddy spoke up from his place at the front of the vessel.

"Why not go right under their noses? It'd be the last place they'd think of checking."

Paine considered it, and gave a small smile. "Good." She said. "Although you'd need to be careful how close you go."

"Macalania…" Yuna said, looking at Tidus, who looked back in turn. "Close enough to be unobvious, and far enough away to be safe."

"Exactly." Paine said, ruby eyes shining.

"Brother, set a course for Macalania forest!" Yuna ordered.

~*~

The journey passed relatively quickly, as Yuna and Tidus scoured the cabin for their belongings, which, fortunately, were very few, and wouldn't encumber them in their stay in the crystal forest. Each only took a small pack, and after putting their things inside, packed in the rest of the space with all the medicine they could afford to carry. Finally, they grabbed their weapons and made their way to the exit ramp, in the engine room.

Buddy, Rikku and Paine awaited them there. It would be hard for the two of them to leave their friends behind, not knowing whether they would see each other again, or how long it would take for the situation to cool down. If it did, that is.

Rikku literally jumped on Yuna when she descended the stairs, almost bowling her over. Tears were running down the blonde's tanned cheeks, an unusual sight, as Rikku almost always had a smile on her face. Yuna reassured the girl as best she could that they would return, and that quieted Rikku a little, reducing her to sniffling while she watched Paine give her cousin an affectionate pat on the shoulder.

Buddy shook Tidus's hand while Paine exchanged a few words with Yuna, inducing a smile. Tidus had never known Buddy all that well, and would have been more than happy to share a few drinks with him one day.

"Good luck, man." Buddy said, giving him a heartening smile. "I know you'll need it. Look after her right?"

Tidus flashed him a trademark grin, although it wasn't the happiest he'd ever given. Playfully punching Buddy on the shoulder, he replied, "Of course. Always."

The airship settled down with a soft thud, prompting Tidus to take Yuna's hand in his. He pushed the 'Open Door' button and watched the ramp in its slow descent to the dark forest floor. Yuna beside him waved in farewell to her friends, and a tear slipped down her porcelain-smooth cheek, but she wore a smile. If this was to be the last time she saw them, she wanted them to see her somewhat happy.

The two of them descended the ramp, and as soon as their feet touched the blue floor of the Macalania forest, the ship had sprung back to life, and flown into the distance. Yuna could still see Rikku's tear-stained face in her mind's eye.

"Come on, Yuna." Tidus said gently, leading her down one of the many paths, "We need to find somewhere to stay for the night."

They walked in silence for a long time, still hand in hand. This place held so many memories, and she reflected on them while they walked, absent-mindedly staring at the beautiful crystals which lined the paths, glittering with some sort of ethereal light, even though none pierced the canopy above them. Yuna found it strange that not once in all of her years had she just sat and admired the beauty of the world around her. It was a sobering thought, that she had led a life completely oblivious to even the simplest of things that made the world what it was.

Only until after he gave Yuna an odd look over his shoulder did Yuna realise Tidus had been speaking to her. Snapping out of her reverie, Yuna gave him apologetic look. "S-sorry…" She mumbled, reverting back to the stuttering Yuna of old, "What did you say?" She blushed at how silly she sounded.

Tidus however, gave her a knowing smile, and repeated what he had said before. "Do you wanna camp by the lake?"

Yuna could detect the humour in his voice. She opted to ignore it, giving him a smile.

"Sure."

~*~

Night fell in the Macalania forest, the only sounds evident being the chirp of crickets and the crackle of the small fire Tidus and Yuna had made. They had debated whether it was a good idea or not, but had concluded that the forest was too cold to do without one. They only made a small fire; enough to keep them warm for the night.

Yuna had previously made a stew of some flat mushrooms she had found growing beneath a particularly large crystal by the waterfront. The meal sat like a rock in Yuna's stomach, and did nothing to elevate her mood. The gravity of the situation had gotten to her. The two of them were likely under a death sentence, with a bounty on their heads for anyone who might discover them, dead or alive.

Tidus noted her melancholy, and drew her closer to him, kissing her lightly upon the forehead. They sat huddled together under a blanket by the fire, trying to gain as much heat from it as the little flames would allow. Yuna drew closer to Tidus's warm chest, wrapped an arm around his middle, and gave a long, drawn out sigh as she gazed into the little fire. The light danced on her eyes.

"A gil for your thoughts?" Tidus asked, trying to cheer up the woman against his side. She gave him a half-hearted smile, her eyes not moving from the fire.

"I hate to be the pessimist, Tidus, but…" She paused, searching for the right words to say.

"But…?"

She looked down to the floor. "There isn't much hope for us, is there?" She was so quiet that Tidus struggled to hear her.

"Of course there is!" He exclaimed, sounding more confident than he felt. "We can get through this. We beat Sin didn't we? And you beat that Vegna-thing right?"

She sat up straight and looked into his eyes, the blanket falling from her shoulders. The look in her eyes was telling him to be realistic. He resigned himself to the truth.

"No, there isn't…" He sighed, rubbing his eyes with one hand. The image of Baralai flashed, unbidden, in his mind for a split-second. He forced his eyes open as quickly as possible. The phantom image dissipated, but the nausea didn't. Yuna retuned to her position against Tidus's chest and pulled the blanket tighter about her person.

"It's ironic, don't you think?" Yuna spoke into the quiet.

"Huh?"

"It's just that we've both 'saved the world', and come back alive, and now we're to be executed?" Yuna mused. Tidus was uncomfortable hearing her speak this way, but let her continue. "We're not Spira's saviours any more…"

He said nothing to that. The fire spat, sending an ember spinning to the lake shore amid a puff of smoke.

"I'm sorry I got you dragged into this, Yuna, I-" Tidus started, feeling he needed to say something.

"It's not your fault, Tidus." She said, cutting him off.

He sighed, looking down at her face. She was staring into the flames again.

"I just feel as though I have to apologise…" He said, feeling a bit stupid.

"You don't have to apologise for anything Tidus." She said, angling her face to look into his eyes. "I'd far rather be here - a convicted criminal on the run with you - than watch your execution."

Silence stretched out between them for a few minutes.

"Yuna, I promise I'll do everything I can to protect you." He said, resolutely.

"Still the guardian, I see." She said, cracking a smile.

"Forever," He said, grinning back, "and always, Yuna."

He reached down to capture her lips…

Crack! A twig snapped beyond the clearing. Yuna and Tidus looked wildly about, suddenly on alert. Tidus grabbed Caladbolg from its position beside him, and crept towards the border of the clearing. Yuna reached for her pistols, lying by her pack, but Tidus turned and silently bade her keep still. She sat, stock still, by the fire, wishing she could put it out, but too afraid to try.

Tidus crept forward further, making to part the leaves of a large fern-like plant to see beyond, carelessly ignoring the small crystal formation that his boot was headed onto. Yuna could not warn him without making a noise. He wasn't looking in her direction. His boot descended. The crystals snapped, creating a horribly loud crunch in the relative quiet of the forest. Tidus realised his mistake, and grimaced.

A distinct shuffling came from behind the bush Tidus had attempted to peer through. It sounded like many booted feet. Tidus sprang back.

"This is the Bevelle Military!" A deep voice called. Tidus and Yuna froze. "Show yourselves!"

~*~

A/N: Please leave a review and tell me what you think. Is it good? Bad? Should I burn in hell? Any feedback is welcome!

Thank you,

icedragon6171