Setting: Besaid island, 4 years after the end of FFX and, therefore, 2 years after the end of X-2. I'm still going to keep the story in the FFX category, however, since its main character is an FFX main character. If you think it's misplaced at all, however, please do let me know. I'm going to be writing this somewhat out of sequence, but there'll be enough flashbacks that everything will be clear by the end.
Note 1: On the phrase "drowning rat." I love rats! Rats are actually adorable creatures. In movies, they have to actually use gel and stuff on rats to make them look ugly.
Note 2: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! I never expected such a response so soon, before any real plot even began! I know that the first chapter's not that great, and leaves some stuff out, and I do plan on rewriting it at some point to elucidate some of the problems my LOVELY reviewers have brought up.
Note 3: The clothing I put Lazarus in was inspired by Hattori Hanzo's second outfit in the game Samurai Warriors. I'd put up a pic of it if I could find one. Oh yeah, and I'll try to keep these pre-chapter notes shorter in the future, I promise.
"You had your chance to run," Paine said with a smirk, hefting her sword in one strong hand. A curl of silvery hair fell into her face, falling out of the temporary mohawk she'd tried gelling it into, but she didn't pay it any mind. He wasn't going to get out of it this time, no sir. She had him cornered, and as soon as he tried to move in one direction or another, it would be her turn to strike.
"Yeah! Get him, Paine!" A giggle squeaked from her audience, though she wasn't sure at this point whether it were Rikku or Yuna. The cousins had become one mass of thin limbs and high-pitched laughter, one on top of the other. Gippal and Tidus had banded together against the three girls that afternoon when they were playing volleyball on the Besaid beach, right near the dock. When Tidus had pounced Yuna like an over-eager puppy, knocking her and Rikku down in the process, Gippal had taken the fishing net they'd been using as a court divider and thrown it over both of them. Paine, though her shoulders were shaking at the predicament of her fellow sphere hunters, felt herself obligated to defend them. So while they were rolling around trying to get out, with no success so far, she'd plucked up her sword from the sand and began to chasing the boys around with it, threatening to chop off delicate parts of male anatomy. When she began to go after Tidus, Yuna gave a shrill warning to leave her husband's boy bits alone, in case she needed them one day for kids and stuff. Gippal it was, then...
"Dump him in the ocean! No one'll know it was you!" Rikku cackled, peeking through two holes in the fishing net. "We'll cover for you!"
Paine gave her trademark slight smirk and threw her sword... Which landed point-first in the sand right between Gippal's legs. Looking down, the man blanched, and thanked his lucky stars that Paine had not meant to aim accurately. His relief was short-lived, however, as Paine took advantage of his momentary distraction to stomp near him and grab him by the seat of his pants, hurling her friend into the nearby surf.
"Just my luck," he grumbled, "covered with water, and with a really bad wedgie. Thanks, Pilot. I knew I could count on you."
"Any time, Engineer. Glad to be of service," she said, saluting with a near-imperceptable wink. But before she could run off to continue the assault on Tidus, Gippal had managed to take a great mouthful of oceanwater and spit it in her face.
"Hurt time!" she yelled, rolling up her non-existant sleeves, and Yuna and Rikku went unaided while she pummeled Gippal with a million light punches, and the Al Bhed tried to fend her off as well as he could, arms in front of his face and looking like a drowning rat - his perfectly-spiked hair beginning to plaster against his head in gel-sticky clumps.
Since Tidus had been spared, he ran across the beach to the net and began to tickle Yuna's sides, merciless despite her pleas. "Stop! Nooooooooo! Help, Paine!" she cried breathlessly, "Come get this one too! Or just get me out of this thing, I'll do it myself!" Yuna struggled against him, and Rikku managed to move just enough out from under her cousin to bop Tidus on the head. Unfortunately, Rikku's bopping did nothing to stop him - not until one particularly hard thump on his rear made him go "ack!" and turn around.
"Wakka! Let us out!" Rikku cried, after seeing the blitzball that had bounced off Tidus' butt in his capable hands. The red-headed islander surveyed the situation and shook his head. Then, much to Tidus' chagrin, Wakka grabbed the net, flung it off the girls, and proceeded to tackle his friend into a chokehold.
"Tidus, don't treat your wife that way, ya? You're gonna be sleepin on da couch soon, if you don treat her right. Trust me, budda, I know." Wakka held on laughing while Tidus struggled, elbows digging into the sand. But without warning, something small managed to tackle Wakka, letting out a high-pictched squeal of happiness that distracted the redhead entirely. Wakka slipped off Tidus and grinned, squirming in the sand and pretending to have a very difficult time disloging the tackler. Tidus took the opportunity to crawl over to Yuna and pull her into a sandy hug.
"Aww!" Rikku giggled, grabbing Yuna away from her renewed Tidus-nuzzling and pointing at the two-year-old Vidina. The boy was grinning, trying his hardest to wrestle his father, but far too small to make any headway. He really was cute, with brown eyes tinged with pink like granite, and his father's gravity-defying hair, if a bit closer to auburn than fire-red. Lulu had tried to cut it short like Chappu's had been, but even though it was as feather-light as most toddler's hair, it could not be tamed. Unfortunately for Lulu's state of mind, however, Vidina had inherited her own pale skin, and was very prone to burning in the Besaid sun.
The child's mother walked closer to the group, an Onion Knight doll sitting on her shoulder. She kneeled down in the sand with her family, quietly observant as usual, one arm laid gently over her stomach, still a little full from having given natural birth. She clearly had something to say to the group, but she was waiting patiently until Wakka caught her eye, and finally cried out, "Okay, little man, I'm sayin uncle! Go play with Aunt Rikku, eh?"
Rikku clapped her hands and spread her arms wide, catching the toddler when he raced to her and falling flat on her back from the impact of his joy. Yuna, meanwhile, tilted her head, waiting for Lulu to say whatever it was that she had to say.
"Yuna, there's a man here to see you." The black mage's face darkened a bit, lilac-painted lips pursing in concern. "I haven't ever met him before, but he says it's urgent that he speak with you. Baralai and his fiancée came earlier today and we were baking, so they're keeping an eye on him."
"His fiancée?" Tidus asked, typical confused lilt to his words. After a few moments, his eyes and mouth widened in sudden understanding. "Oh! You mean, he asked Shelinda to marry him?"
"Mm. About time. I was beginning to think our Navigator had no guts," Paine murmured, walking up to the group. She'd used her garment grid to change into her Trainer outfit, since her usual garb was covered in saltwater and dark, wet sand. Flurry circled overhead, before diving towards the water a little ways away and scooping up a wriggling fish in his black talons, sending out the loud call of a pleased raptor. Meanwhile, Gippal was not so lucky. He walked up to the group, dripping and griping, covered in the beach gunk out of which Paine had so effortlessly changed. His hair, normally combed just a bit forward and perfectly spiked - Rikku guessed once that he spent two hours on it every day - was plastered to his head, and he couldn't even manage to scrape it into some kind of order. Sticky blonde bangs flopped forward towards his eyes, and his eyepatch was soaked through. The right side of his face kept twitching, as if saltwater had gotten beneath the patch. "This?" Gippal had said once when Yuna asked, "I got it in a bar fight when I was sixteen. This jerk scraped me up with a bottle. The eye could still see, but he cut the lid off completely, so it's all scarred up around the socket and totally gross. Don't look unless you have an incredibly strong stomach." He'd shown Wakka at a late-night post-game party once, and the blitzer was so drunk and so nauseated by the sight that he'd vomited right on the beach.
"So," said Lulu, standing, "shall we go see to this tall dark stranger?"
"At least she didn't say 'handsome,' Wakka," Rikku giggled, cuddling Vidina to her shoulder while the little boy played with her braids. "Then you'd have to get jealous."
"Hey hey hey hey, I don get jealous!" Wakka grinned, sliding an arm around his wife and grabbing the hand-like nubs of the Onion Knight. As they walked, the doll 'held' onto his fingers and swung back and forth like a gymnast. "Lulu's got the best catch around, ya? No way she'd think about other guys." His eyebrow furrowed a little, then, and his face fell. He looked over at his wife's profile with big puppy-dog eyes. "Right, Lu?"
"Yes, dear."
Wakka grinned again, looking at Rikku with triumph. Then he spun back to his wife, eyes big again, scratching his head. "Waitaminute, I know dat 'yes, dear.' Dat's your sarcastic voice!" he cried, pointing an accusing finger inches away from Lulu's nose.
She smiled, lips twitching with surpressed laughter. "Yes, dear."
"I hate to break up this sweet-talk, guys, but, um..." Yuna put two fingers to her lips. "We're here."
Suddenly, the light and happy air that had been over the group all morning was gone, and the entrance to Lulu and Wakka's family-sized tent seemed strangely foreboding and dark. Since the black mage had already seen the man and knew he did not bite, she entered first, followed by Paine and Wakka, then the rest.
As soon as she saw the man, Yuna was intimidated. Though he could only have been four or so years older than herself, he seemed worlds apart. He was indeed tall, dark, and handsome, dressed in loose-fitting clothing clearly intended for ease of movement in combat. His boots and gloves went to the knee and elbow, made from hard black leather, and accented by steel buckles, keeping them tight, and likely deadly if he were to send either kick or punch in one's direction. Loose black martial arts pants flowed down his legs, bloused a little at the knee where they'd been tucked into the heavy-looking boots, and were embroidered with red silk in stripes down the outside of leg. A sleeveless black tunic covered his torso, embroidered with red silk in the form of epaulets on his shoulders and cut in a 'V' down his chest. A steel belt equivalent to the gloves and boots cinched the tunic at his waist, longer at the front to guard against attacks to the belly. The most peculiar thing about the outfit was an undershirt that swept from underneath the tunic; though it rose up to cinch around his neck like a turtleneck, this collar was raised in the back, starched into stiffness, and there were small, blunt metal hooks sewn into the collar behind both of the man's ears. Hooked onto these metal pieces was a black silk mask, covering the man's nose and mouth so that he was indistinguishable except for red-brown eyes, thick eyebrows, and short-cropped black hair that stood out in careless spikes around his hairline. The look would almost be considered stylish, but Yuna could take one look at the man and see that he had no concern for something so trivial as appearance. He stood facing away from the group, his gaze puncturing a hole in the wall of the tent, arms crossed and legs apart. Shelinda sat on the blue couch looking nervous with Baralai standing next to her, hands clasped behind his back. Until the group had entered the tent, he'd clearly been murmuring an attempt at conversation with a man who appeared made of stone, or at least temporarily ailed by that status effect.
After a few anxious moments, Yuna finally walked toward the man and cleared her throat, bowing. When she straightened, she had her hands clasped in front of her, fingers working themselves into the crevices of the opposite hand, palms rubbing against one another in discomfort. "I am Yuna. Lulu said you wished to speak to me, Sir?"
He turned to see her, and his position immediately relaxed, which eased the rest of the group into some semblance of normalcy. Even Baralai collapsed onto the couch, sitting next to his fiancée. They made quite the pretty couple, especially since they always wore Yevonite robes the same matching shade of grass green.
"High Summoner Yuna," began the stranger, his voice rather light for one so imposing. It wasn't high-pitched, but it wasn't very deep either, and had a distinctly gravelly tone to it that made it soothing to hear. "My name is Lazarus. I have come from Bevelle."
Yuna smiled and bowed again, extending an arm towards a chair. "Lazarus. I recognize that name. The story of the man who was raised from his grave by his cousin." Though the man declined to sit, his eyes remained soft and welcoming, and Yuna continued. "A very powerful cousin named Yu Yevon. And when the man was raised after four days on the Farplane, there was a great celebration. Likely revolving around blitzball." She smiled, deciding to take a seat herself. When Lazarus didn't answer, she continued. "This of course was before the time of Sin. Not many know of Yevon's ability to heal, however. Your parents must be true believers."
Lazarus paused, looking at the floor for a moment before responding. "My parents were... great believers. In the power of life and death, and in Spira's ability to transcend both. As am I. That is why I've come."
"And why have you come, Mr. Lazarus?"
"I have been commanded." When Yuna's face warped into an uncustomary frown, the man straightened, pulled himself taller. "Now that the temples are open to the public, many in Bevelle, as well as elsewhere, are making their own pilgramages to the Chambers of the Fayth. Though the statues are gone, and the holes leading to the Farplane are covered up in case of accident, there are... remnants of what once was." Lazarus crouched to Yuna's eye-level, looking deeply into her face, studying her expression as he spoke. "The Fayth of Bevelle, once fayth to the proud aeon Bahamut, spoke to me. If you don't believe me, I can tell you that he looks like a child, dressed all in purple, his face masked by the shadows of his hood. Happens to like the word 'precisely' very much. He commanded me, as a servant to Spira, to come to you and offer my services as the guardian-- as the bodyguard of the daughter you will bear within the year."
Yuna gasped. It was a good thing she'd been sitting down, because her body tilted back, stunned into a near-faint. Tidus rushed over and whipped off his gloves, putting his hands on his wife's shoulders. "Yuna!" he cried, deeply worried, while the other people inside the tent were standing stiff, in shock at what had just been said so calmly.
"Yunie..." began Rikku, hesitant to ask what was so clearly on everyone else's mind. Finally she blurted, "You're pregnant?"
Yuna nodded in response, groping along her shoulder for Tidus' hand. He knew, of course, but it had only been a month since she'd skipped a period, and they were waiting to find out for certain before telling anyone else. "Why... why did he send you, Sir? I have my friends, my family. Everyone around this child will be ready and able to protect her. I can fight myself, if need be. Is Spira really going to become that dangerous in the near future? Again?" She shook her head, hands shaking on Tidus', while he squeezed her shoulders in an attempt at comfort. Suddenly, Yuna shouted, "Hasn't my family risked enough for this world!?" Her soft voice broke in the middle of her shout, and real rage and frustration poured out, pent up for most of her life but finally having come out over her past few years of freedom.
Lazarus turned away, a wounded look in his eyes. "I am sorry, but the Fayth did not say. He commanded me to go. I asked no further questions." That's a lie. I asked why. I begged. I pleaded with him not to make me go. "I came to protect your family, Lady Yuna. Not to harm it through my words. I apologise. Command, and I will leave."
Yuna sighed and shook her head. The rage had passed, leaving her empty and confused. "No. Thank you for your offer, Mr. Lazarus. I will accept it, and I thank you. You may, ahh..." She paused and looked at Tidus, biting her lower lip for a moment. He nodded in return, letting her know that she should do what she thought best. Comforted, Yuna turned to Lazarus and gave another bow. "If it is acceptable, you may come to live with us. We have a guest room, but you are perfectly welcome to become our lodger. Since you're rendering us service anyway, there will be no charge."
"I thank you," responded the man, with a respectful bow, calculatedly deeper than that with which Yuna had graced him.
Too much formality, thought Rikku, so she cut into their bowing and foolishness an such with, "So I guess that means Paine and I are back to the airship, huh?"
Yuna chuckled. "Sorry, Rikku. But it's not so bad. You know you love the Celcius."
"Yeah, well. At least I got some time away from Brother. He can really get on a girl's nerves, you know." The 19-year-old Al Bhed grinned, flashing her dimples at Gippal as she spoke.
Gippal laughed. "You got that right! Though hey, think you two could give me a ride back to Djose? The guys can do fine without me, but I'm still their glorious leader. We can have a big party back at my place," he said with a grin. "Rin comissioned me to come up a design, and I made this smooth cocktail machine. You gotta check it out."
"Technically," murmured Paine, "we're not legal. Rikku has two years to go, and I've got one."
Yuna giggled. "Aww, c'mon. You two go have some fun. You can drink for me. Now that I'm legal age to get sloshed, I'm apparently pregnant." Suddenly, she started laughing, and jumped up from her seat to pounce Tidus with a giant hug. "We're having a baby! We really are!"
"Yeah!" Tidus caught Yuna with one arm and stepped one sneakered foot back to keep himself from falling backwards. Once he'd recovered from her exuberance, he slapped Wakka a high-five and winked. Vidina wouldn't have to grow up as the only kid, after all.
Everyone began to crowd around the young couple, and dozens of hugs were exchanged. Rikku bounced Vidina in her arms before passing him to Wakka, explaining to the toddler that there was a playmate coming soon. Poor Baralai had to practically hold Shelinda back from getting her camera crew to interview Yuna on the spot in case the world at large found out about the pregnancy before Yuna's entire extended family did, and that family extended across the whole of Spira. They even got on the sphere with Khimari and told him. The Ronso elder, already starting to show some signs of gray in his blue fur, smiled his best smile. "Terrible," Tidus muttered, grinning like the insane.
Lazarus, however, was gone before the flurry of love could begin. He'd slipped from the tent door and stood outside, palming a large white bottle of sake he'd left corked in the sand. It was better this way, warmed by the sun, but it didn't seem to soothe whatever thoughts were going through his head. As he swallowed, he looked up at the cloudless sky and a raptor, feathers blue down to its neck, circled overhead, miles above the island. And all Lazarus could see was the fresh red blood on its talons, and the way that it looked headless against the morning sky.
The man chuckled, took another sip of his sake. "I'm such a damn pessimist."