Chapter 3: Besaid
Kain eyes are closed, his mind drifting, his body flowing and swaying weightlessly. Slowly, his eyes reopen, his body being tossed upwards almost instantly as his hair whipped the wind. He doesn't take the time to eye his surroundings as he cries for Rikku. Opening his eyes, he notices he is no longer out at sea. It is daylight, yet the sun beating upon his flesh hasn't the slightest affect on him. The water is shallow now, possibly 9 to 10 feet deep, and tinted a shade of aqua as forests of coral reefs grow below him. Suddenly, a force comes flying towards him, striking against the side of the vampire's face, causing him to loose his steadiness and plunge back under the surf. As he surfaces, his face stinging and eyes burning with anger, he sees a strange white and blue ball. Instantly, he remembers Rikku's words.
Kain
"A.... blitzball?"
His attention is suddenly triggered at the shore. Kain sees a large beach with pure white sand, a large doc with boats tied to it, and a large, tropical forest behind several gathered people. Amongst them is a tall man with flaming auburn hair spiked up, then trailing down his face into sideburns and some signs of a beard. A blue headband is fastened around his scalpe and forehead, right above his brow. He donned the oddest of all outfits: a yellow pair of over-alls with a blue suit beneath it. His hands and forearms were gloved and padded, and his feet were a pair of sandals. He waves his arms at the vampire, yelling in the strangest accent Kain had ever heard.
"Hey! You okay?"
Rather than replying, Kain descends under the water, hitting the ball into the air with the top of his head. The ball shoots up as Kain rockets out of the water, flipping backwards, forming into a double-legged bicycle kick. The male with the odd accent narrowly avoids the ball hitting his head. Rather than feel offended or insulted, he gives a chuckle, obviously impressed with Kain's stunt.
Kain drops back into the ocean, noticing the man's smirk. However, the smirk is anything but disrespectful. Kain tilts his head to the side, confused at the fact that these humans seemed to have no hatred towards vampires. The Al Bhed apparently were over-protective around him, but who wouldn't be? Keeping these thoughts stored within his mind, Kain approaches the group on the beach. The auburn-haired male turns around and his mouth opens in surprise. His posse surrounds Kain, all with wonderous looks on their face.
Auburn Haired Man
"You wanna try that move one more time?"
Kain winced, his eyes narrowing and ears twitching at the man's accent. It was such a rare tone, deep and energetic, yet sounded so suitable for such a place. He only prayed that the other inhabitnents on this island didn't share the same accent. He disliked every bit of it. The male takes a blitzball and tosses it into the air.
Sighing, Kain steps beneath it, his scowl returning as the group steps back. The blitzball bounces off of the vampire's forehead; he then proceeds to jump upwards, and tilt back into a back flip. Then, swinging out his legs powerfully, he proceeds to bicycle kick the blitzball at an incredible speed into the water. The male with the accent smiles and turns to him.
Auburn Haired Man
"You're no amateur. Who you play for?"
Kain
[crosses his arms and glares coldly]
"I play for no such team."
"I haven't the time nor the interest in doing so."
The male steps back, his face slowly forms from a happy look to that of a stern gaze. The others gasp and turn, facing each other as they converse over the male. Kain then retorts with,
Kain
"I have had a small encounter with the being known as 'Sin'."
"So I know not of this place, or even where I came from."
The smile returns on the man's face.
Auburn Haired Man
"Sin's toxin got to you."
"But, you're still alive."
"Praise be to Yevon!"
The islanders performs a familar gesture; right forearm over left forearm, fingers spread out, hands curved in the shape of a circle, and bow. Kain remembers this gesture performed to him by his vampire warriors before his battle with the Sarafan Lord. He nods approvingly, yet says nothing more. The man turns to the rest of his posse.
Auburn Haired Man
"All right, back to practice!"
[he turns and offers a hand to Kain]
"I'm Wakka, coach and captain of the Besaid Aurochs, brudda."
Kain continues to glare. He does not offer out his hand, and remains solemnly still.
Kain
"Pleasure."
"I am Kain."
Wakka raises an eyebrow, then lowers his hand.
Wakka
"Hey, you sleepy or something?"
Kain raises another eyebrow, then lowers his arms to his side.
Wakka
"Okay! Back to the village. I'll get you somethin'!"
"I felt like I could trust this Wakka."
"True, his accent was critically annoying, yet his nature was spirited."
"And seeing that I wasn't famaliar to these lands, inquiring was required at a time such as this."
Kain
"It's true Zanarkand was destroyed a thousand years ago, correct?"
"So now it's nothing more than ruins and rubble."
Wakka
"Long time ago, there were a whole lot of cities in Spira. Big cities with machina--machines--to run 'em."
"People played all day and let the machina do the work."
"And then, well, take a look."
[he gestures to ruins that are still displayed in the shallow waters]
"Sin came, and destroyed the machina cities."
"And Zanarkand along with 'em."
"Yeah, that was about a thousand years ago, just like you said." [he places his hands on his hips and looks at hte ground, pondering]
"If you ask me, Sin's our punishment for letting things get out of hand."
"What gets me, though..."
[he raises his head and crosses his arms]
"is we gotta suffer, 'cause of what some goofballs did way back when!"
Kain
"You mean to tell me that Sin had appeared one day because of humans using these... machina?"
"It sounds like utter nonesense."
"Industrial revolutions are created to enhance our lifestyles to live every day without struggle."
[he faces Wakka]
"To be quite frank, I believe you're being brainwashed."
Wakka's gaze hardens, eventually growing more annoyed by the moment. Kain notices his fingers balling into a fist, then relaxing with a sigh.
Wakka
"You're been poisoned by Sin's toxin, so you don't know much."
"Just don't say things like that outloud, you hear?"
"I'm not trying to sound threatening, but you might upset somebody."
Kain sighs and nods.
"It was just as Rikku said."
"Wakka and Rikku couldn't both be lying. What reason would they have to do so?"
"I appreciated the fact that Wakka was trying to defend my safety."
"I knew my words were upsetting him, but at that time, all I could think about was..."
"Everything that happened to me--all this--started with Sin."
"And perhaps I could find Sin one more time, and I could return to Nosgoth."
"For now, I'd just live life until that time came..."
Wakka
"Well... follow me, Kain! It's this way!"
Wakka signals Kain to follow him, and the two run into the tropical forest. A path had been forged through the forest and split into two seperate roads. One was blocked by one of the ancients ruins. Kain followed Wakka down the second road. He eventually approaches Wakka as the two of them stand over a ledge. Kain looks below, seeing a large, salt-water river. More reefs grow along the floor of the river, and in Kain's own opinion, it isn't that bad of a sight.
Before he can retort, Wakka rams into him. The vampire loses his footing, causing him to topple over the ledge, crashing into the water below. Wakka gives a playful smile, then catapults off the ledge. Forming into a spectacular dive, he rejoins Kain in the river.
Kain
[angered]
"What are you playing at, human!?"
Wakka
[swims away slightly]
"Huh? Human?"
Kain
"You're such a fool. You mean you haven't noticed?"
[bears his fangs]
Wakka
"Oh, you're a vampire, aren't you?"
[ponders] "Say, you're different then the other guy back at the village."
Kain blinks, then swims forward. Obviously interested in what the man has to say, he loosens his face to a less violent appearance.
Kain
"What are you saying?"
"There's another vampire here in this.... Spira."
Wakka
[nods]
"Yeah, but he's different than you,"
[mutters]
"And a lot nicer..."
[raises his voice]
"You don't seem to be bothered by the sun, ya?"
"But this guy can bearly walk outside without feeling some strange pressure or somethin'."
"And you seem okay in the water,"
"This guy can go in the water, but when he does, it hurts him."
"You know, like something's stinging him. He said it used to burn, but the pain's loosened up, I guess."
Kain nods, a slight smirk forming on his face.
"A Nosgothic vampire... obviously."
"However, this one seemed to be more keen to the fact that sunlight and water were still poisonous to his being."
"Finally, things were beginning to look up..."
Kain
"I would very much like to meet this vampire."
"Lead the way, Wakka."
Wakka
"Yeah, but I have a favor to ask ya..."
"A major blitz tournament's coming up. All the teams in Spira'll be there!"
"And you're pretty good with that blitzball for being a newbie, ya know?"
"I'm sure you don't remember your old team, because you obviously had one with your skills, ya?"
"So, if you go to this place with me..."
"Then you can go back to your old team, right?"
"It'll be fun! What do you say, huh? Come on, come on!"
Kain gives the man a glare that shows that he is obviously uninterested and annoyed by the man's on-going chatter and his annoying accent. He turns away and dives under the water. Wakka watches him descend, then follows, swimming ahead and leading the way. Wakka swims along the surface while Kain takes his time under the water. Kain continues to ponder his thoughts... Spira had been a world unlike that of Nosgoth. The only simularities the two shared were vampires, demons and humans. Then he divided the differences into another part of his mind. Spira was a world flowing with life and beauty. Vampires were not completely diseased by the sun's rays or the water's tides, at least enough to the point where they could walk and swim freely without much pain. Nosgoth was a wasteland, corrupted and demolished, a ghetto of death, darkness and decay. Vampires could never walk into the water unless insanity had driven them to do so.
Before Kain could ponder out more of the differences, Wakka dove below and was infront of him. He signaled his hand towards shallow water, and the two swim onto solid ground. The two sprint ahead, walking onto a large, rocky cliffside. A strange structure was constructed at the top of the cliff, but for what reason, Kain did not know. He then notices Wakka's silence, as he gazes at the foot of the cliff. Walking beside him, Kain sees that below the cliff, in the distance, is a small, tropical village.
Wakka
"This is where I was born. I started blitz when I was five."
"I joined the Aurochs at thirteen...ten years ago."
"Ten years...and we never won a game."
"Well, after last year's tournament, I quit. Time seemed right."
"So, after quitting, I got this new job, ya?"
"But every time my mind wandered, I thought about the game."
Kain is obviously bored with the conversation's topic on blitzball. He wants to see this vampire. However, he decides to just follow along. The human was giving him assistance and information about Spira. The least he could do was resist killing him... for now.
Kain
"I'm sure ten years of losing would do that to you."
Wakka
[turns to face Kain]
"Hey, you're not so bad after all, Kain."
"My first match last year was my big chance."
"But something else was on my mind. I couldn't focus."
Kain
"Such an unoriginal excuse."
Wakka
[lifts his hands] "Hey, hey!"
"That's low, man."
Kain
[sighs] "So you want to win the next tournament, am I right?"
[Wakka nods]
"So, what's your goal?"
Wakka
"I don't care how we do. Long as we play our best."
"If we give it our all, I can walk away happy."
Kain
[wheels on him]
"Pathetic, human! You call yourself the coach?"
"If I say "What's our goal?" you say 'Victory'!"
"When you play in a blitzball tournament, you play to win!"
Wakka
"Victory? You serious?"
Kain
"By all that is holy, Wakka. You MUST know that by now."
"I haven't played a single game of this so called 'Blitzball' and I know what to do already by your on-going topics."
"Now enough of this chatter, I'm sick of hearing your voice!"
"Let us see this vampire and get this over with!"
Wakka's eyes look hurtful and surprised. Kain scowls again, then makes his way down the cliff. Apparently hurt by his words, Wakka walks behind. Seeing that Kain already knows where to go, he stays back and remains silent. His mood has apparently been ruined for the day. As Kain reaches the foot of the cliff to the entrance of Wakka's town, he encounters two more villagers. One is a young boy with tanned skin and short black hair. The other is an older male with bright red hair.
Black Haired Boy
"Ah, the one from the sea!"
Red Haired Man
"Be on guard. There're fiends on the road today!"
"After surviving your run-in with Sin, 'twould be a shame if something happened now."
They enter the village as Kain stops in his tracks, allowing Wakka to approach him. It wasn't their concern or the fact that they were humans that made Kain so relieved. It was the fact that they didn't share the same accent of Wakka.
Kain
"Who were they?"
Wakka
"Luzzu and Gatta--Crusaders."
[notices Kain's confusion]
"What, you forgot that too?"
"Don't worry about it, I'll help you out."
Kain lifts his head, just about ready to tear his own throat out at what he's about to say next. He lowers his head and squeezes his eyes shut, accompanied by the clenching of his claws being balled into a pair of fists.
Kain
"I thank you..."
"In return, for that tourniment..."
[growls in the pit of his throat]
"I'll make sure you have a satisfying victory..."
Wakka's eyes widen, his jaws drop and his mood has been regenerated.
Wakka
"You really mean that!?"
"Dude, our team's gonna rock, ya?"
[runs over and puts Kain in a head lock]
"Thanks a bunch, man!"
Kain
[murderous look]
"Get your arm OFF of me...!"
Wakka
[jumps back]
"Hey, sorry."
"About the Crusaders, you can ask them yourself."
They've got a lodge in the village."
Kain nods and continues to growl, still annoyed at the fact that Wakka was trying to bond with him. If anything, he wanted the man to just leave him in peace. The two continue down the path and enter Wakka's home. The village is small, consisting the housing of tents and small lodges. Above, down a short path is a large temple of some sort.
Wakka
"Besaid Village."
"Take a look around, Kain."
"Let's see..."
"The Crusaders lodge is over yonder. Luzzu and Gatta are usually there." [he points to a blue tent]
"Oh, right."
"You do remember the prayer, right?"
Kain crosses his arms, apparently clueless of what to say or what to do. Wakka shrugs it off.
Wakka
"Man, that's like the basics of the basics. Alright, I'll show you."
[He does the prayer; the hand gestrues that him and his Aurochs did to Kain on the beach when they first met]
"Go ahead, you try."
Kain
[relunctantly]
"If I must, I must..."
[He imitates the exact movements.]
Wakka
"Hey, not bad."
"Okay, now go present yourself to the temple summoner."
Kain
"Tell me where the vampire is, first."
Wakka
"Well.... ummm.... he's sorta busy right now..."
Kain
[furious]
"I did not come all this way listening to your ridiculous babble on blitzball, Sin or this Spira place!"
"I expect to see this vampire now!"
Wakka
[angered]
"You know man, I've had enough of this!"
"I try bein' nice 'n all but you're just acting ungreatful!"
"You know, like a spoiled kid!"
"You gotta know that there's stuff in this place that we gotta follow, ya?"
"So try respecting our ways and maybe we'll start liking you!"
Taken by his words, Kain steams with slight rage, then sighs it away as Wakka storms off. How he longed to tear out that man's throat right then and now... but until he found that vampire, he would have to hold off killing him for some time. Turning towards, the temple, the vampire moves forward at a jogging speed, then enters. The temple is structured in a rounded form and has steps that lead into the walls. On these steps are large statues of humans, dressed in odd tradition robes. There is a large stairway that leads to a pair of double doors, and on both sides of the stairs are a pair of doors. Several people are inside, praying to statues. A harmonic hymn is heard, echoing throughout the structure.
"It was then, standing in that place."
"I began to fully realize how different this world was from my own."
On the right side of the stairs is a large statue of a man clad in a robe and holding a staff. Kain approaches this statue and examines every detail. From behind, a bald man donning the robes similar to that of the statues approaches him. He is apparently the "temple summoner" Wakka spoke of.
Temple Summoner
"Ten years have passed since Lord Braska became high summoner."
"And finally we received a statue for our temple."
Kain
[turns to face him]
"What is a high summoner?"
[everyone gasps]
"I was too close to Sin and my memory isn't completely there."
"It was humorous hearing myself make the same excuse over and over."
"Humorous... and pathetic..."
Temple Summoner
"The summoners are practitioners of a sacred art, sworn to protect the people of Yevon."
"Only a chosen few become summoners, who call forth entities of great power: the aeons."
"The aeons hear our prayers and come down to us. They are the blessing of Yevon."
"So what he was saying..."
"was that we, humans and vampires alike, should respect some great man, I figured."
Kain
"I was told to present myself to you."
"Seeing that I have, I am curious about this place."
"Is it true a vampire is living here with you?"
Temple Summoner
"Ah, another vampire. How joyest."
Kain
"Joyest?"
"You speak as if vampires and humans are in alliance."
Temple Summoner
"Only during the days of Sin. Vampires and humans bond to stop Sin... when the calm comes, then the natural order shall return, I assume."
[he gestures to the stairs]
"The vampire is in there... yet you must wait until he emerges."
Voice
"Didn't I already tell you that?"
The two turn around to see Wakka entering the temple. His voice seemed anger, yet his eyes were full of concern.
Kain
"Is there a problem?"
Wakka
"The summoner hasn't returned from the trial."
Kain
"A summoner is in there with a vampire?"
"You people are seemingly trustworthy."
Wakka
"Well, you see..."
"There's a room in there called the Cloister of Trials. Beyond is where the apprentice summoner prays."
"If the prayer is heard, the apprentice becomes a fully-fledged summoner, remember?"
"The vampire's assisting her.... but a day's already gone by..."
Kain
"Is it particularly dangerous in there?"
Wakka
"Sometimes, yes."
"There's already guardians in there, though."
"And besides, it's forbidden."
Kain dislikes the word "forbidden", by the looks of it. He sprints partway up the staircase that leads to the door to the Cloister of Trials. Halting, he looks down at the Temple Summoner and Wakka.
Kain
"I care not for the summoner..."
"But I'd like to see the vampire."
Temple Summoner
[lifts his hand]
"The precepts must be obeyed!"
Kain
[annoyed]
"I tire of hearing that ridiculous phrase!"
Having that said, and the gasps of several humans, Kain throws open the doors and enters the Cloister of Trails. A wall shimmers before him, and an odd symbol is depicted on the wall to his side. A slot has been placed onto the wall with the symbol as Kain walks towards the shimmering wall. He touches it gently, and recieves a small, glowing sphere. He eyes the sphere, then the slot, and knows what to do. After inserting the sphere into the slot, a door opens, allowing him to run through. Another sphere is placed in a slot as well. He takes it, and runs through a long hallway, seeing another slot. After inserting the sphere, a door opens behind hm, revealing an odd pedestol. Kain walks towards it, and pushes the pedestol forward, into the center of a square-shaped stone room. After completing this, the pedestol enters into the floor.
Wakka
"Hey!"
"What's gotten into you?"
Kain wheels around, seeing Wakka approaching him. Remembering Kain's "encounter" with Sin, he brushes the defiance aside and steps beside him.
Wakka
"Hey, it's okay."
"Only summoners, apprentice summoners, and their guardians can enter here."
"It's a tradition. Very important."
The room begins to move down, working as a type of lift or elevator. Kain ignores this and looks at Wakka.
Kain
"And what does that make you?"
Wakka
"Me? I'm a guardian."
Kain [snickers]
"A guardian?"
Wakka
[missing the snicker]
"Summoners go on a pilgrimage to pray at every temple in Spira."
"Guardians protect them."
"The guardians in there now..."
"One of them's got a short fuse, and who knows what the vampire's thinking."
Kain
"A vampire is a guardian as well?"
Wakka
[nods]
"Yup."
"Well, now that we've come this far..."
"might as well go all the way!"
The lift stops, and the two walk into a large room, lit with torches. There's a long stairway, just like it had been in the entrance to the trials. Upon entering, Kain and Wakka catch the eye a woman dressed in black, belts enwrapping around her legs and forming into a long, black dress. Her top has a low-cut collar with a V-shaped tan fur on it. Her sleeves are long and bell-shaped, with gray flora print. The woman's hair consist of several, long black braids with bangs over her right eye, and her face is covered with dark make-up. Aroudn her neck are several beeds and necklaces. She rises to her feet.
Woman
"What are you doing here? Didn't think we'd be able to handle it?"
Wakka
"No, it's uh...it's just..."
[Turns to Kain]
"See, I told you she gets mad easy."
Kain ignores the woman and glances at the second figrue in the room. His eight surpasses over his by a few inches, and is donning a white, silk shirt with a black pair of pants. An odd red cape is on his back, and his arms are crossed. Kain sees that the man is tinted a shade of dark emerald green, and has a large set of cat-like ears on his head. The green figure turns his head slightly, catching Kain's eye. Both Kain and the green being (apparently the vampire) widen their eyes in shock. The woman notices him finally.
Woman
"Who are you?"
The sound of an opening door is heard. Kain, Wakka, the woman and the green vampire stand in front of a large doorway. The door slowly lifts, revealing a pair of blue, heeled boots and a long, dark blue silk dress with white flora print. As it raises higher, Kain sees a strange, yellow sash around the waist of the apprentice summoner, then a white, silk shirt with strange, white and pink arm pieces. Finally, the door raises to reveal a sweating, exhausted young woman, no older than the age of seventeen.
She has her back bent over, apparently aching some some sort of stressful labor. After straightening herself, she begins to move forward, lightheaded. After taking one step, the girl loses her footing and falls forward. Wakka and the woman gasp as Kain takes a step forward. However, before he an react, the green vampire sprints up the stairs with incredible speed, allowing the girl to fall into his chest as he wraps his arms around her, protectively. The two exhange looks for a brief moment before she nods slightly, and he slowly moves away. After flipping back her short, brown hair, she opens her eyes, one green, one blue, as she smiles sweetly.
Apprentice Summoner
"I've done it. I have become a summoner!"
The group has exited the trials and is now back in the first room of the temple. Several people surround the summoner and her guardians, praising and bowing before her.
"I was appalled by the mere fact of vampires and humans assisting one another..."
"But the vampire Vorador, a guardian to a human?"
"Such a thing was unheard of in Nosgoth."
"And about summoners, I thought them to be elderly men..."
As Kain exits the temple, only to be called towards a large crowd of people by Wakka. The crowd has circled around the summoner and her female guardian. The two join the group as Vorador watches from afar. Kain's eyes are fixed on him as the green vampire follows him with his eyes.
Wakka
"Ey Kain!"
"Wait till you see this!" [when Kain approaches him, Wakka gives a thumbs up to the summoner]
"Ready!"
She looks over at him, a long rod held in her hands. She nods slightly, then raises her rod into the air as shades of purple, fuchsia, and light blue surround her form. She steps back, holding out her rod behind her. In explosion of light in the sky, the aeon is summoned. Kain looks up to see a large multi-coloured creature, mixed between that of a bird and a dragon. It descends, landing before the summoner. She approaches it, and gently strokes the creature's throat lovingly. The crowd cheers out at Kain watches with disbelief at what had occured. Wakka and the female guardian enter the circle to congratulate the summoner, embracing her and smiling.
"I had never seen anything like it in my life."
"I could sense great power from within that creature..."
" Yet I could feel a strange kind of gentleness coming from it."
"I remember..."
"That night, we talked for the first time."
"I hadn't known it then, but after that night, everything changed."
"For all of us... For myself..."
Night has befallen. the summoner and several of the villagers are seated around a campfire. Kain and Wakka are standing in front of the rest of the Besaid Aurochs, the blitzball team.
Wakka
"Let me introduce you to the team." [looks up at the team]
"This guy here wants into the tournament so bad, I let him on the team."
[Kain rolls his eyes]
"His memory's a little fuzzy, so don't mind him if he says anything odd!"
"Come on, say hi."
Kain steps forward, his arms crossed as he looks at the other players. Each are donned in the same outfit as Wakka's.
Kain
"So, what's our goal?"
Aurochs
"To do our best!"
Wakka
"Nope, we got a new goal now!"
[he smiles at Kain, then raises his arm]
"Our new goal...is victory!"
"To win every match, defeat every opposing team!"
"To bring the Crystal Cup back to our island!"
"That's all we need to do to win! Easy, ya?"
The Aurochs eye each other, smile at each other, then they begin to chant "Victory!" over and over. Kain eyes the area, noticing that Vorador is no where in sight, as well as the woman in black. He then eyes the summoner at the campfire. She gazes at him, smiling sweetly. Lowering his arms and softening his face, he walks towards her. However, the three people seated with her: an old man, and old woman, and a little girl, each have pleasant things to say to Kain in succession.
Old Man
"You heathen!"
Old Woman
"Stay away from the summoner!"
Little Girl
"You're a bad man!"
Kain's scowl returns as his arms cross again. The summoner eyes him mysteriously, then raises to her feet. The old man raises his hand to her wrist, gently touching her hand rather than grasping it.
Old Man
"Lady Yuna! Be careful!"
Summoner
"But it was really my fault to begin with."
The man pulls away as the summoner smiles again. She turns away from him and moves towards Kain as his arms drop to his side.
Summoner
"I'm Yuna."
"Thank you so much for your help earlier."
Kain
[his scowl loosens]
"I apologize."
"I had no intention of ruining any type of tradition..."
"I just wanted to see the vampire."
Yuna
"Lord Vorador?"
"You know him?"
Kain
"Of course..."
[he shows her his fangs]
Yuna
"Are you... a friend of his?"
Kain eyes the ground, his hands now on his hips. Yuna steps towards him, trying to look at his eyes.
Yuna
"Sir...?"
Kain
[nods]
Kain...
Yuna
"Sir Kain..."
"You don't get along with him well... don't you?"
Kain
[looks away]
"Sorry to disappoint you..."
Yuna
"It's alright..."
[she steps forward again]
"But you know... I see no reason to dislike him."
"He's been very kind to me... and protected me ever since I was a child."
Kain's eyes widened at that. Vorador protecting a human? Since childhood? His eyes trailed up and down Yuna's figure... she was a healthy, sweet girl. She seemed loving and and honest, and showed no fear or annoyance in defiling the tradition. He could see how Vorador possibly wouldn't mind being around her... but since childhood? She must've been somebody of great importance to him...
Yuna
"What's wrong?"
Kain
[shakes his head]
"It's nothing."
"Anyway... that technique you had when summoning the aeon..."
"It was amazing..."
Yuna
[delighted]
"Really?"
"Do you think I can become high summoner?"
Before Kain can reply, the little girl approaches Yuna.
Little Girl
"Lady Yuna, come play with me some more!"
Yuna
[nods and faces Kain]
"So, tomorrow, then."
Kain
"Tomorrow?"
Yuna
"We're going on the same boat, aren't we?"
Kain
"Quite possibly..."
Yuna
"We can talk more."
"You can tell me all about Nosgoth!"
Kain's eyes widen at her words. She walks away before he can say much more. Wakka walks besides him and gives him a light friendly elbow in the arm.
Wakka
"She's cute, ya?"
Kain
"Don't be ridiculous. She's a child."
Wakka
"You didn't answer the question, ya know."
Kain
[lowers his head]
"She's attractive for her age..."
Wakka
"Yeah, she's a sweet girl,"
"And you probably don't have any right now, but I'll have to say it just in case."
Kain
[faces him]
"Say what?"
Wakka
"Don't get no ideas."
Kain
"Well what was to happen if she decided to come onto me?"
Wakka
[lowers his head]
"That's not gonna happen."
"If you get tired, let me know. I had a bed made for you."
Kain nods, and follows Wakka into the Crusader's lodge. He seats himself on the bed, then lays down as Wakka exits the room. Almost instantly, the vampire is asleep...
Night...
Kain finds himself seated on a dock, staring out at the sea. Fog surrounds the area thickly, and the ocean is almost impossible to see. He rises to his feet, making his way to the pier. His eyes fix on a figure in the distance just a breeze passes by.
And there, standing at the edge of the pier, is Yuna. The breeze allows her arm pieces and semi-kimono to flow in the wind as strands of her hair dance about. Her back is turned to him, her figure haunting. It is almost as if she's a ghost. Kain approaches her, gazing out at the sea as well...
Kain
"The boat hasn't arrived yet?"
Yuna
"Everyone will find us if it doesn't come soon."
Kain
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
Yuna
[faces him]
"Would you take me to Nosgoth?"
Footsteps are heard, of somebody sprinting towards them. A famiular voice is heard...
Voice
"Hey!"
Kain and Yuna turn around, seeing Rikku standing there. Kain jumps back, astonished with her sudden appearance.
Kain
"Rikku?"
Rikku
"You said you'd go with me!"
"And I thought Wakka told you not to get any ideas?"
Yuna
[faces Kain] "He did?"
Rikku
"Yeah, so you're coming with me, right?"
Kain faces Yuna... then turns to Rikku... just as a large explosion appears. Light erupts in the air, filling the atmosphere. Yuna looks at the sky, along with Kain and Rikku. Almost instantly, bolts of emerald electricity shoot out from the mist and fog. They aim for Kain, exploding against his chest as he topples backwards. His eyes shut as a painful scream is let out... joined by yet another. He hits the pier, landing on his back... and his eyes widen to see Yuna beside him, lying on her stomach. Blood erupts from her stomach as small sparks trail up her arms and over her face...
And then he hears the voice:
"I am your fate, Kain... now and forever..."
Kain
"Yuna!"
Kain finds himself sitting straight up in the bed, sweat pouring from his face and chest. His undead heart beats frantically, as if trying to explode through his chest. Sighing, the vampire places a hand to his temples... just to hear a female voice...
"He's dead, okay? Dead!"
Kain turns his head, moving his way to the door. Looking beyond the opening, he sees Wakka speaking to the female guardian.
Woman
"He does look a lot like Chappu. I was surprised, too, the first time I saw him."
"But no matter what he looks like, he isn't Chappu."
"You shouldn't have brought him here in the first place!"
Wakka
"Lulu, trust me. I'm kinda disappointed I brought him here too."
"The man's as tough as nails, ya?"
"But...he needed our help!"
Lulu
"Excuses again?"
Wakka
"Yeah, but..."
Lulu
"That's it. No more. Enough, Wakka!"
Frustrated, Lulu storms away. Wakka reaches for her, but then just shrugs it off. Sighing, he walks for the tent, and walks into Kain.
Wakka
"Woah, sorry 'bout that."
Kain
"So, who is this Chappu that I remind her so much of.?"
Wakka
"My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you."
Kain
"Not as 'tough as nails' though, I assume."
Wakka
"You heard that, huh?"
Kain
"Apparently so."
"So this Chappu... he's dead, I pressume."
Wakka
[hangs his head]
"He was with the Crusaders when they fought Sin last year. He didn't make it."
"I first heard on the day of the tournament."
Kain
"Oh... you're distraction from the game."
Wakka
"I became a guardian to fight Sin, ya?"
Kain
"Revenge on your brother's name, supposively?"
Wakka
"That was the idea."
"I'm more worried about a stupid game now than avenging my brother."
"Well, after the next tournament, I'll be a guardian full-time."
[looks at Kain]
"I know it kinda looks like I'm using you, but I'm not."
Kain
"I seem to recall playing the pawn once before..."
"It ended badly... but I suppose this is one I owe to you."
Wakka
"Huh?"
Kain
"You assisted me to the village, had concern for my safety, and even showed me the vampire?"
"I suppose what I mean is... you have my thanks, Wakka..."
"And I apologize for my eariler actions..."
Kain extends his hand for a handshake. Wakka lifts his hand, but pulls away.
Wakka
"Stop, you're embarrassing me!"
Kain gives a friendly chuckle, then returns to the bed. Wakka laughs as well and crawls into his bed.
Resuming in the morning, Kain awakens, stretching out his arms and back. He swings his legs off the bed, noticing Wakka has left him. He exits the hut and sees Lulu and Wakka are talking conversing. She notices him, and tilts her head to the side, signaling Wakka. He looks beyond her and watches as Kain approaches.
Wakka
"Hey! Sleepyhead!"
"Something I want to give you."
"I figured, let's start all over, ya?"
"You know, bury the hatchet. So... here..."
Wakka present a large sword tinted a sparkling crystal blue. Kain's eyebrows raise, his hands extending for the sword. The blitzball player allows the weapon to slip into Kain's hands as his claws grip the sword's hilt.
Kain
"You're... giving this to me?"
Wakka
"Yeah, use it well!"
Lulu
"That's the sword you gave Chappu."
Wakka
"Well, he never used it."
[he looks about the area]
"Where's Yuna?"
Kain
[sheaths the sword and crosses his arms]
"We're taking the same boat as her, correct?"
So why wait here?"
Wakka
"Yuna came to this village ten years ago, when the last Calm started."
Kain
"The Calm?"
Wakka
"Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu."
"But she had the talent... She became an apprentice."
"Now, today, she leaves as a summoner."
Lulu
[crosses her arms as well]
"This is our journey... We should leave together."
Noises are heard from behind. The three turn to see Yuna exiting the Besaid Temple. She's dragging several suitcases, struggling as she moves along. Lulu lowers her arms and raises her voice.
Lulu
"You really don't need all that luggage."
Yuna
[halts and replies]
"They're not really my things."
"They're gifts for the temples we're to visit."
Wakka
"This isn't a vacation, Yuna."
Yuna
"I guess...I guess you're right."
She walks forward, leaving the luggage behind her. Kain watches her as she approaches, smiling sweetly, then stopping before him.
Yuna
"Good morning..."
"I'm sorry for leaving so early, the sun must bother you."
Kain
"No, the sun brings forth little pain."
"But where's Vorador?"
Yuna
"He said he would meet us at the docks after resting in the darkness for some time."
"He'll catch up..."
Wakka
"Okay! Off we go!"
Kain nods, then he, Wakka and Lulu turn around, leaving Yuna behind. She slowly turns around, taking one final glance at the temple. Stepping back as if to kneel on one knee, she performs the prayer, bows, then follows the others.