Hello reader! As promised, here's my next addition to the story. But before the story gets underway, I just gotta say a few things. First of all, to all my best friends! Heather, Vampiress Lulu (everybody should read Saphire Rose), Rikks, you guys rock! To my other reviewers: Saddened Soul (and Dark Link), AidaiSukix33(I hope I got that right) and my newest reader (I don't remember the name, but no offense, I'm working from memory right now)! You guys rock too! Now that was pointless. So, on with the show...

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Chapter 5: Family Ties

After a much safer trip through the last half of the Thunder Plains, Yuna and Tidus entered the shelter of the next town. Guadosalam was once a bustling trade community, populated by both humans and Guados. These days, most humans avoided lingering in the dying town.

"It was a year ago." Tidus said vaguely, as if in a trance of deep thought.

"The Guado rebellion, right?" Yuna asked. "Lord Seymour was exposed as a corrupt religious leader of Yevon. When it was discovered, he led attacks on the Al Bhed and Ronso to distract the public from his lies. Luca saw through him and took him down and...oh." Her voice dropped off when she saw his reaction, a mixture of pain and sadness.

"You know your history." He tried hard to smile at her.

"You were in that mess, weren't you." She said softly

"Yeah." He replied, muttering a few words under his breath that Yuna would never repeat.

"Now he's gone into hiding somewhere here. I don't understand why they don't just root him out! It wouldn't be very hard..." she continued

"No, Luca has no right to come barging in here no matter how much we want Seymour dead. We would be risking the death of too many innocent people and Guado." He explained. Yuna was impressed, he had hatred towards the disgraced leader but was smart and compassionate enough to know when endangering innocents was a bad idea. If she had known him more than two or three days she would have hugged him. Suddenly, from behind them, came the call of a deep voice that interrupted the sweet moment. Tidus winced at the sound of the voice, he knew exactly who it was.

"Hey bro, dad. Hi Lenne." He turned and greeted the three people that had approached him.

"Hello brother." Sneered a blond man that was Tidus' look-alike.

"How're ya boy?" a man with light brown hair and a short beard clapped Tidus on the back. Both of the men seemed arrogant, wearing the finest cloth and standing tall like nobles. A woman with long brown hair and a draping purple gown just murmurred a greeting under her breath, seeming embarassed by the men who accompanied her.

"Eh, Yuna, this is my brother Shuyin," he said, pointing to the blond, "My dad Jecht," this time he pointed to the man with the beard," And my brother's wife Lenne." he said motioning toward the woman.

"Yuna, huh..." Shuyin said, ignoring his brother's introductions. He leaned forward to get a better look at the princess. Yuna didn't like the look he gave her. She got that serious expression on her face and broke the man's trancelike gazing.

"Princess Yuna, of the Luca Royal Family." She said sternly.

"Yes, I was charged with giving the princess a safe passage back to Luca."he announced, following her lead, "Which reminds me, we better get moving if we're going to make the Moonflow by nightfall. Good day." He helped Yuna back on her chocobo, got on his, and they both rode out of Guadoalam. Once out of the forest, they turned to each other, both red in the face from trying not to laugh.

"Did you see the look on their faces?" Yuna giggled.

"That was great! Thanks alot, Yuna!" he grinned proudly at her, "There's a lot more to you than we all thought." Yuna shrugged modestly.

"It was nothing! Now let's get moving!" she cried triumphantly, spurring Tide into a gallop with Tidus on her heels.

I told you there was a twist! For those of you who thought Shuyin and Lenne were ill represented in this story, don't you worry! They'll pop up later on, they have a big role in this story. For those of you who think I'm just plain crazy for putting Lenne and Shuyin in the roles I have them protraying, I have something to tell you! I get the whole "A, you're totally nuts!" thing all the time, but I don't mind if you tell me so! Anyway, this chapter was too short for my taste, but I'm not so worried about it. You are gonna LOVE the next chapter sigh... So stay tuned!

Next time:

Chapter 6: Wordless Confessions and Staff-fu