**Oyoyoy...gomen for the lack of updates, people. Life has been busy, and I finally finished my costume (and it went very well!)--which reminds me. Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you got lots of candy but didn't get sick!

The updates will still be rather slow in coming, but they will come, I won't give up! Trust me! Chem and my Yuna costume just caught up to me and the story kinda got left in the dust. Sorry about that. This one's a fairly long one, so hopefully that'll help ease the pain of having to wait for so long...ah, bad authoress! Yes, I borrowed that term from a faithful reader...^_^ Hope ya don't mind! So! Final Fantasy X and all related characters/ideas © 2001 by Squaresoft, this idea is kind of mine, but if anyone has their own spins on it, I'd like to see it! ^_^ Please enjoy!**

The sounds of forks and knives clattering against plates was a welcome sound in Yueh's mind. Eating off of actual dishes rather than out of her hand or on a wooden makeshift pokers was wonderful after three days. The new people to talk to was also a great addition.

"Mmm, egg rolls," Niet mumbled through a mouthful. She picked a few more off of the large platter in front of her. "Mhph."

The priest's niece laughed, both amused and a bit afraid. "Thank you. Its one of my specialties."

"The chicken teriyaki is delicious as well, Kiri," Arashi noted with a smile. "Its the best I have ever had." Kiri blushed.

"The other summoner who came here said the same thing, Lady Arashi," the priest, Kihou, said. He frowned momentarily. "That was about the only thing she said."

Yueh coughed into her food. Setting down her fork, she tried to look nonchalant. "Ah...another summoner?" She cocked her head to one side.

Kihou nodded. "Yes. I didn't get to ask her her name, however, she seemed nice enough and even took one of the local Crusaders on as her guardian."

"It was Genki," Kiri added.

Kihou leaned back in his chair. "Ah, yes. Young Genki, quite a...spirited young fellow." He chuckled to himself, amused at his own joke.

Yueh looked to Arashi, who shrugged. Another summoner?

"Tell me, did she succeed in gaining the aeon of this temple?" Arashi asked, piling more teriyaki onto her plate.

Kiri nodded. "Oh, yes, she did! She even summoned it for us all to see! Quite a sight, it is," she said, looking at all three girls in succession. "A beautiful, majestic creature, flying down to serve the summoner in any way it can..." At this point, Kihou had excused himself and cleaned up his spot on the table. "Fighting or just flying, they're always there..." Once Kihou had left the room, Kiri trailed off and lowered her voice. "But she dressed like a slut."

All three girls blinked. "What?"

"Her top was down to here--" she gestured to a rather low point on her chest "--and she had this real short skirt. I think Genki was rather taken with her." Kiri frowned as her cheeks flushed a bit. "I hope he's careful."

"I, ah, I'm sure he will be," Arashi reassured. Kiri smiled slightly. Arashi leaned forward, her teriyaki forgotten. "Did you sense anything or was it just the way she dressed?"

Kiri set down her fork and put her arms on the table. "She just...the way she walked, there was an air about her. She carried herself like she was above everyone else. And Genki fell for it." Kiri sighed and picked up her fork once more. She pushed around some of the teriyaki on her own plate as she finished. "It just seemed like she was in the wrong place."

Yueh sat silently for a moment. Another summoner...

Arashi took a glance at Yueh and seemed to be thinking along the same lines. She stood up and gave a small Yevon bow. "Thank you for the food, Kiri, and your hospitality. My guardians and I would like to visit the temple tonight, before we sleep."

Kiri nodded, and Niet gave a sad glance at her plate of remaining egg rolls as she stood up. Niet did a small bow and stood behind Arashi. Yueh finally stood and followed suit. Kiri gave a small bow herself as the three left the hut.

"We'll be back before midnight at the latest," Arashi said over her shoulder. In front of her, Niet blanched. "MIDNIGHT?!"

Arashi laughed. "Come on..."

Entering the elaborate temple, their footsteps echoed throughout the empty chambers. Yueh and Niet followed Arashi as she slowly and carefully walked up the stairway to the Cloister of Trials, holding her skirt up so she wouldn't trip over it.

"I really hope this is quick," Niet muttered. The three walked through the Cloister of Trials' doorway and into the Cloister itself. The door shut behind them with a resounding wham onto the stone floor. Niet stared at the ceiling for a moment, her brown eyes wandering. "I want to sleep well in a bed tonight."

"We ALL do, Katie-chan," Arashi said. She laughed. "I mean, Niet. We all do." Arashi continued ahead of the others to look for the first sphere and her voice bounced off the stone and brick walls. "But don't expect too much for beds, they're probably only straw-filled mattresses."

"Better than nothing," Yueh said with a shrug. Niet sighed.

"Yeah. Not much." Light and a loud bang filled the barren hallways and Arashi shouted from up ahead.

"I found a chest! Come up here!" Niet, forgetting her whining, and Yueh, giving up trying to convince Niet of anything, jogged ahead to meet their summoner. Arashi pointed to a greatly singed hole in the wall.

Yueh kneeled next to the small chest and examined it closely. Her deep brown eyes scanned over the wooden chest and saw a star-shaped marking inset where the lock would normally be. "Niet, I think this one's made for you. C'mere."

Niet stepped forward and hesitantly brought her star-shaped gem on her wrist to the marking on the chest. It glowed brightly like the moonlight on a midsummer's night before dissolving into a small trinket on the floor. Niet's eyelids fluttered, and she gingerly picked up the small bracelet that sat on the floor. As she did so, a small pop-up window appeared above it, with white writing that said, "Metal Bracelet."

"Armor," Yueh said knowingly. All three nodded, and Niet slipped the bracelet on her right hand. As she admired it, Yueh and Arashi went on to uncover the door to the Chamber of the Fayth.

"I really don't see why we even have to come in," Niet mused, still staring at her silver bracelet. "Its never dangerous like they said in the game."

"Three heads are better than one," Arashi said. "The puzzles get harder as we go along. Anyway," she said, opening the door to the Chamber, "I'll see you guys in a bit." With that, she entered the Chamber, the door whooshing shut behind her.

Niet and Yueh were resigned to sitting once again, only this time, both had something to do--Niet her book to read, and Yueh her flute to play.

Yueh's fingers began to play the melody to "Suteki da ne" unconsciously as she paced and thought.

Sin came here because of me, but Arashi...she's not the only one who can take care of Sin now. We're not the only ones who can kill it. This other summoner... Yueh fumbled in between notes on the chorus while her thoughts stumbled. Another summoner. I never would have thought it possible. Someone else to take this burden besides me, besides Arashi. Yueh winced as she squeaked a high note, and Niet gave her a small, annoyed glance before going back to her book.

I wonder...is this how the other guardians feel? Wishing someone else would do it, and not their summoner? That someone else's friend, another guardian's charge would bring the Calm and not their own. Only protecting them from the inevitable. "Crap," she said amidst the break between the last verse and final chorus.

"'Crap' what?" Niet asked. Yueh's cheeks flushed.

"I didn't mean to say that aloud." Yueh sat down and let her legs stretch out. She placed the flute on her lap and sighed. "I was just thinking..." There was a long pause.

"...why us?" Niet ventured. Yueh let out another sigh and nodded. Niet closed her book and set it down next to her. "I know. And this other summoner, I was thinking, I mean, why couldn't we--"

"--just let her take care of Sin this time around?" Yueh finished, raising an eyebrow. Niet cocked her head to one side and looked at her oddly. She blushed a bit.

"Uh, yeah." She looked down at her feet. "Is that wrong or something?"

"No, in fact, I was thinking it myself," Yueh admitted. She looked up at the stone ceiling. "I was thinking...that all guardians think that at one point or another." Yueh shook her head and tapped her nails against the cold floor. "This just...sucks."

"That," Niet said, managing a smirk, "would be an understatement." She glanced at her shining bracelet. "Another thing I was wondering. How can this be armor?"

"Magic of some sort," Yueh guessed. Yueh leaned forward and crossed her legs. She took off her sandals and began rubbing her feet. She winced. "And its too bad magic doesn't take care of aching feet."

Niet's nose wrinkled. "Or smelly feet." Yueh gave her an odd glance, and Niet giggled. "Just kidding..."

"Not amusing. I'll have you know that--" Something from down the hallway made a loud, rattling noise, then the sound of someone cursing. Yueh and Niet jumped to their feet, Niet pulling her rapier halfway out of its sheath.

"Who's there?" Niet shouted. The cursing stopped. Niet pointed her rapier's tip down the hallway. "Who's there?!" The shout bounced off the walls.

"Uh...no o--aw, crap." The string of cursing continued once again.

"Okay, guy, no funny business, or you'll get a thunder spell up your rear!" Yueh yelled out. A young man, no older than 18, crept past the corner, his hands held up above his head. His bleach-blond hair hung in his eyes, and he was handsome but rather scruffy looking.

"Don't, uh...don't fire!" He blinked, watching Niet and Yueh sigh and relax again. He paused . "...What, I'm not threatening?"

"We've ran into flans more scary looking than you," Niet retorted. She gave him a quick once over. "You look like Tidus." Yueh stifled a giggle--she was right.

His face contorted. "Since when was that a bad thing?" He shook his head and put his hands in front of him. "Don't answer that. I came in here because we need help, pronto. ASAP, PDQ--"

"We get the point," Niet said, silencing the beach dude. She picked up her book and walked past him. "What's the problem?"

"Hugantic Sin spawn." He began scratching the back of his head nervously. "I, ah, came in to bring a gift to help convince you, I guess, to fight, and--"

"WHAAA!!!" Both the beach boy and Yueh winced as they heard Niet fall to the floor. She came crawling around the corner, glaring at the blond boy. "You brought MARBLES as a gift?"

"Bath beads, actually," he said, smiling. "I figured, you know, days on the road and no---agh, what am I talking about?!" He gestured wildly. "Sin spawn! Fight! Summoning and--"

As if on cue, Arashi came stumbling out of the Chamber. Her goggles hung around her neck and her hair shrouded her face. Yueh ran to her and helped her to stand up straight. Arashi tried to wave her off but accepted the arm of support. She began to speak but her eyes flashed to the blond boy. "Who...surfer dude?"

"Ah!" The boy gave a start and tried to do a Yevon bow, his arms flailing as he failed miserably. Giving up, he just bowed at the waist. "Milady summoner, there's a sin spawn out front--"

"Sin spawn? Attacking?" Arashi took a deep breath and managed to stand upright on her own. "Let's go." She went one step and fell to her knees. All three ran to her and she waved them off, standing up. "The Fayth said I was a strong summoner, and I think a strong summoner should be able to stand on her own two feet."

The blond boy blinked. "You...you already gained the aeon--agh, never mind! Let's go!" He ran out of the Cloister of Trials shouting, "They're coming, everyone!"

Arashi stood slowly and walked carefully, but determinedly, out of the Cloister of Trials, with Yueh and Niet close on her heels. When they stepped out of the ornate temple, they had quite the sight to greet them.