A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been on vacation for a week. I missed my computer. I'd just like to thank moogle for my first ever review, and so far my only one. Any constructive criticism or comments are still welcome.
Chapter 2:
In the weeks after the destruction of Vegnagun, the different factions were busy trying to restore order after the recent chaos. When they had finally regained at least a semblance of control they realized they needed to do something to prevent the same mistakes from happening over and over again. They decided to meet in Luca. Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal were there as the head honchos; the Gullwings, now including Tidus, were there too because of their "recent involvement and service to Spira." Cid and Rin were also present, Cid to represent the rest of the Al Bhed and Rin to represent the merchants and businesses. Kimahri and Tromell Guado were there for their races.
Rin now lived in Luca and had volunteered his office to hold the meeting since there were no government buildings. Since the Eternal Calm had started and Yevon's hypocrisy was revealed, Spirans had been wary of giving anybody that kind of absolute power. Now they realized they needed something a little more unified than all the separate factions doing their own thing.
The delegates were able to decide on each village or settlement having one self-determined representative before the meeting degenerated into a shouting match. Finally the delegates' throats had enough for the day and the assembly broke up, with very little decided. Messengers were sent to all the towns to inform them of the decisions made.
One of the last issues discussed was a growing fiend problem. The decision was made to start up patrols and to ask the Machine Faction for more sentries, but after the meeting, Nooj, Baralai, Gippal, and the Gullwings stayed behind to talk about it more.
"What, you want the Surging, Flapping, Neighboring Gullwings to take care of the fiends?" asked Brother.
"No," said Nooj, "We think this is more than a coincidence."
"You mean Shuyin," Yuna said, as a statement, not a question. Tidus, who had been told about the whole Vegnagun incident but not that Shuyin would return, looked confused.
Baralai nodded and was about to respond when Shinra interjected, "We think he is drawing pyreflies to himself, and the high concentration of pyreflies is causing the unusual fiend activity."
"Huh?" asked Rikku.
"Look, fiends are made of pyreflies, right, so where there are more pyreflies there will be more fiends, and more powerful ones," he explained.
"Yeah, we know that, but how is he doing this?" Paine questioned him.
"He's using large scale gravity spells, like he did with the aeons, to draw them in."
"That's not good," Rikku whined.
"Why bother, though, it's not like he can destroy all Spira with fiends, no matter how many or how strong they are," Gippal pointed out.
"I'm not entirely sure his intention is to produce fiends," Shinra replied.
"Then what is his intention?" Yuna asked.
"I'm just a kid." (Thanks a lot, Shinra, good work. Give yourself a pat on the back.)
"Hey! How come Nooj and Baralai knew about this before we did, huh? Rikku complained, "We're the ones who live with you."
"Shinra called us about it," Baralai answered.
"I was testing the upgrades to my commspheres," was Shinra's only answer. He didn't want to tell them it was because he thought Nooj or Baralai might have some inkling as to what Shuyin was doing since he had possessed them, they hadn't been a big help, though.
"We still can't do anything until the fayth finds Lenne," Baralai reminded them.
"Yeah, hey fayth dude, that's your cue," said Gippal to the ceiling, but nothing happened.
"Sure, Gippal, like that's going to work," laughed Rikku. "I just hope it doesn't take the fayth as long this time as it did last time we asked them to find somebody," she continued, then realized what she had said and looked guiltily over where Yuna and Tidus had been standing, but they had left the room.
"Yuna, why did you keep this from me?" Tidus asked, hurt. They were standing in an alcove off the hallway. "Why'd you hide it?"
"I… It's just, I didn't want to think about it. We were having such a good time, and I wanted to believe it would last. Why do I keep deluding myself like this? It will never end, there's always just going to be another crisis right after we solve the last one. Normal people don't have to live like this, why should we?" she cried.
He stood there for a second and then gathered her into his arms. She sobbed quietly into his shoulder as he tried to comfort her. "Yuna, that's who you are. Even when I first met you I could tell you were somebody who couldn't stand to see anybody else in trouble, you would do everything you could to help. And I'm not just talking about Sin. You were going to sacrifice your life for people you didn't know and that wasn't even enough for you. If you weren't like that you wouldn't be yourself. I can tell you've changed a lot in the last two years, but that part of you is still the same and will always be with you. It's part of who I fell in love with," he said soothingly. "I admit it does have its downside sometimes when it seems like we're going to die, but you wouldn't be Yuna if you didn't care so much."
She looked up at him, still within the circle of his arms. "You mean that?" she whispered.
"With all my heart," he assured her. She was still gazing up at him with her dazzlingly blue and green eyes. He bent his head down to kiss her full lips, while at the same time she raised herself on tiptoe to reach his.
A little while they detached themselves. Looking over Yuna's shoulder, Tidus jumped. "Whoa, I'm not going anywhere!" he shouted. Yuna whirled in surprise, to see the fayth standing there. She blushed, wondering how long he'd been watching them.
"It's okay, Tidus, he's not here for you." Tidus visibly relaxed.
"Man, you gotta not sneek up on people like that," he told the figure.
"Do you want to talk with the others," she asked him.
The fayth nodded, "That would be best." As they made their way back to the conference room he commented, "I'm glad to see you're happy with your decision."
Yuna, realizing he was talking about Tidus, blushed, but smiled. She pushed the doors open and the others immediately looked at them. After they'd seen the boy, all talking in the room ceased.
Yuna, Tidus, and the fayth walked forward. The fayth addressed them simply. "We've found her."
A/N: wow that was fun. And I do think Tidus saying with all my heart is a little cliché but I just wanted to finish this chapter. I've gotten one review, now my goal is two more. Help me reach it, I would not mind going over. (Hint hint, a nod's as good as a wink, nudge nudge. Say no more!)