DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX, FFX-2, FFVIII or any of the characters and locations affiliated with it. I do, however, own the story "Silver Wings", "Silver Wings 2: 1000 Confessions" and all references to dialogue not originated by Square-Enix.
DO NOT COPY MY STORIES!!
If anyone wants to post my stories anywhere else, please just ASK and then give me credit for writing it. Email with any requests.
PLEASE NOTE: "PaineOfBevelleSairysSkyeWind" is a fic stealer!! Watch out for her. She is also known as "Paine" and "Paine of Spira". She has also taken to stealing my name "akksgurl" so for future reference, I am the one and only "akksgurl" and I have never posted on any other site besides this one, so if you see my stories floating around out there and they are not directly linked back here then they have been stolen and I'd appreciate if you'd report them to the webmaster for removal. Thanks a lot in advance! I am also sure I am not the only one she is stealing from so be sure to keep an eye out for my fics as well as others on other sites.
Author's Notes: I don't get it. Whenever the website does some updating, I always end up with problems. Anyway, for some reason my "scene break" marks aren't showing up so I had to do put "end scene" at the breaks to let you know. Just be forewarned. Anyway, I'm sure the interaction between Tidus and Yuna will have you going "What the…?!" and if it does, than I'll have done my job.
SILVER WINGS 3: Back Into My Arms
by akksgurl
Chapter Twenty-Six: Explosive Reaction
It had been a long night and an even longer day that followed. Tidus hadn't wanted her anywhere near him and had even gone so far as to lock her out of the guest house. He'd only unlocked the door when a crowd of angry people had formed because their guests didn't have anywhere to sleep. She hadn't bothered to try and talk to him. She knew he didn't want to discuss anything with her at the moment and she wasn't about to force the issue. She just hoped that he'd calm down in the morning. They really did need to talk.
In the mean time, Yuna had resigned herself to sleeping on the floor of Wakka and Lulu's hut next to Rikku while Gippal recuperated in the bed and the couple and their son stayed with their neighbor. She wasn't thrilled with staying on the floor. She would have much rather talked through the issues with Tidus and see if they could go back to the way things were. However, that didn't seem like a possibility that night, so Yuna wandered out toward the beach where the Celsius was sitting. Brother and Buddy had returned after getting the airship serviced at Home. Yuna was grateful for their silence regarding the situation with Shuyin and Tidus. Their information was also greatly appreciated. Cid was now apparently determined to prove that Gippal had a violent history that could prove his ridiculous theory about Yuna and Gippal planning the deaths of the two blondes in their company. He was now going so far as to research Gippal's whereabouts before, during, and after the attack on Home by the Guado.
Once again, he was trying to frame Gippal for something he didn't do…
"Don't mind me." Yuna said to Buddy and Brother as she walked into the bridge and made her way back to Shinra's area, "I just need to use the computer."
"Yuna!" Brother cried, excitedly running up to her, "How are you?"
"I'm fine, Brother." She replied, only half meaning it. She really wasn't fine. Why would she be? Tidus wasn't speaking to her. Shuyin had vanished again, and with him went answers. Cid was bent on dragging her and Gippal through the mud on his quest for revenge.
Why would she be okay?
Brother smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, Yuna."
"What do you need to use the computer for?" Buddy asked her.
"I don't really know yet." She admitted, taking a seat and turning the machine on, "but I thought I'd do some research on Squall Leonhart."
"The guy from the dream world?" asked Buddy.
Yuna shook her head, "No, the man from real Zanarkand – Shuyin's cousin. This thing is hooked up to the database of all the old Spiran newspapers, right?"
"Yeah. You'll be able to see anything that was published by pulling it from the archives. It'll just read what you want to search for and pull up all articles involving that." Buddy said, grabbing Brother's arm, "Come on. We've got work to do in the engine room."
"Bu…but!"
"No buts. She needs peace and quiet."
Yuna smiled to herself as Buddy dragged Brother by the arm out of the room and down the hall. Brother certainly had changed since her pilgrimage. He was so protective of her now. She wondered briefly why, but then turned her attentions back to the computer screen in front of her. Without Shuyin to give her any more clues, Yuna was on her own to solve this mystery. She sighed, remembering the almost overpowering sense of sadness that had washed over her when she realize that the blue eyed blitzer that stared back at her wasn't Shuyin anymore. Why had she felt like that? Tidus had returned to her and all she felt was disappointment.
"Maybe because everything that has happened since he came back the first time had been a disappointment…" she stated aloud, sighing at the truth of her words. Losing him once had been painful enough, but to have him wrenched from her arms over and over again was numbing. Every time she thought they'd have a chance at a future, he'd been taken away and she had been crushed, destroyed…disappointed. And now he was back, and it was almost as if he wasn't there at all. His body wasn't pressed up against her in a passionate embrace or even the most platonic of cuddles. He wasn't whispering his love for her in her ear just before she fell asleep. She wasn't waking up to see him watching her. She was sitting in front of a computer screen trying to figure out what she wanted to search for while he was hold up in the guest room refusing to see or speak with her.
Yeah, that was true love…
Searching for Squall seemed like the most logical choice, but as Yuna's fingers touched the keys another name appeared on the screen.
Shuyin Bacohl
She stared at the name, her finger braced over the backspace button and she hadn't realized she'd started the search until an old newspaper article appeared in front of her.
Girlfriend of Abes' Player Attacked
Lenne Fetmar, girlfriend of Zanarkand Abes star player Shuyin Bacohl and famous songstress, was attacked inside her home late Wednesday evening by an unknown assailant. Fetmar was stabbed numerous times on the upper body and was left for dead in the living room of her home on Windham Court. Bacohl returned after blitzball practice and was the first on the scene to find Fetmar and was followed after by Zaon Shindly, Yunalesca Yevon, and fellow Abes' players Skirpa DeNardy and Bruttam Starla. Currently Fetmar is in intensive care at ZanarkandMemorialHospital where she is being treated for her wounds. The prognosis for her recovery is good. Anyone with information regarding her attack can call (800) 555-5783.
Yuna scanned the article again, feeling a coldness over take her. It was strange to read about something that had happened over 1000 years ago and yet be able to remember every detail so clearly.
Shuyin had been gone for about a half hour when the doorbell rang. Lenne thought it was Yunalesca and Zaon although when they'd asked if she wanted to join them for a walk near the blitzball stadium she'd declined. Maybe they were there to try and change her mind.
Lenne reached for the door and opened it while saying, "I told you guys that I'm not interes…." The person before her wasn't Zaon or Yunalesca. Whoever it was, was wearing all black – including a ski mask – to hide their features. Their hands were covered in leather gloves but it was the knife in the person's hand that sent alarm bells off in Lenne's head. Instinctively, Lenne made a move to slam the door but her unwanted visitor was faster and forced their way inside, brandishing the knife like it was a toy.
Her assailant kicked the door closed behind her as Lenne made a dash toward the kitchen in the hopes of getting a knife for herself but her assailant was faster and grabbed the songstress's hair, pulling her backward until Lenne lost her balance and fell to the ground. Lenne saw the knife heading toward her and she turned on the ground as quickly as she could but the assailant's aim was true and the knife penetrated deeply into Lenne's left arm.
Lenne screamed out in pain and was just dazed enough to not see the next attack until the knife was firmly in her left side. Her scream seemed to echo off of the walls as the attacker continued to cut and stab her. Finally the assailant backed off. All Lenne could feel was the pain as her blurry vision tried to find where her assailant had gotten to. She saw the person throwing some old vases into a bag before he stared long and hard at her photographs that were lined neatly. There were a few of herself with Yunalesca and a few of herself with Zaon. The man ended up grabbing the one of herself with Shuyin and throwing it into the bag. Lenne tried to say something but all she got for her trouble was the realization that blood was coming from her mouth as well as the other wounds that had been recently inflicted.
"Still alive, are we?" her assailant hissed. It was a man's voice but it wasn't one that she recognized. He leaned down closer to her face, "Well, you won't be for long. You'll bleed to death long before anybody finds you."
Lenne coughed the blood from her lungs and let out one final scream before the man balled his hand into a fist, and smacked her hard against the temple and Lenne's world went black.
Shuyin had saved her life then. He'd felt that something was wrong and he'd come running to her. She didn't have to whistle for him. He just knew when something was wrong. But Yuna doubted that even if she did whistle for Tidus he would come. He was so angry at her now. She felt empty when she thought about him. It was strange, but when she thought about Shuyin, she felt an aching – a longing that she hadn't felt since she lived life as Lenne.
"It's just because Tidus is angry at you." She reasoned with herself, "You just need someone to pass that attachment onto, but things are going to be fine. You'll see…"
Backing up to the previous screen, Yuna typed in the name Squall Leonhart and did another search. She hoped to find some information on Squall that would help explain some of the weird stuff that was going on. For some reason she just knew that it all tied back to him somehow. Call it dumb luck, call it instinct, but Yuna knew that if she figured him out, she'd know the answers.
SeeDGarden Commander dead at 17
Squall Leonhart, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene after a fatal shooting during BalambGarden's celebratory ball in honor of the defeat of Sin. The rifle owned by Leonhart's friend, Irvine Kinneas, was accidentally set off by 13 year old Sam Mathers striking the 17 year old in the temple. Leonhart was part of the group that joined High Summoner Yunalesca and her husband, Lord Zaon, in their quest to defeat Sin. Leonhart's cousin, Shuyin Bacohl, and Bacohl's girlfriend Lenne Fetmar also recently died, victims of the Bevelle Empire. In light of both recent tragedies, funeral arrangements for Leonhart are private. Contributions may be sent to BalambGarden, c/o Headmaster Cid Kramer.
Yuna felt a tear fall down her cheek. So that was what happened to Squall. She vaguely wondered if things had been different, would she have been helping Yunalesca and Zaon? Probably. She wouldn't have had it any other way. And she knew Shuyin would have tagged along because he wouldn't have wanted her in danger. He was always worried about her like that.
Victims of the Bevelle Empire…
She had died instantly, but Shuyin…
She sighed, "Shuyin had been left for dead. This article was printed, and he was struggling to survive inside that cave…"
Taking a deep breath, Yuna backed up on her search and scanned down the page for more articles. There had to be something else. There just had to be.
Lady Yunalesca and her guardians – the Children of the Fate
Yuna paused and mused over the title, "Children of the Fate…?" The article opened almost instantly and her eyes glanced along its columns. It seemed to focus mostly on the members that made up Yunalesca's guardians – all of whom were represented in current Spira by their dream counterparts.
Even Seifer…
That intrigued Yuna because she was under the assumption that he was the "bad guy" in the dream world. Apparantly he wasn't in real Zanarkand.
The article went into more detail about each member, starting with Yunalesca and Zaon until they got to describing her entourage of guardians. It was quite a motley bunch, much like Yuna's own guardianship had been, and she smiled thinking that her old friend would have found the similarities funny.
Squall was like Auron, Selphie was like Rikku, Irvine was like Wakka, Rinoa would probably have been like Lulu except with more of a smiling personality, Zell and Seifer…well she wasn't sure, but they probably would have been like someone. Maybe Zell reminded her of Tidus – at least, the way he was when he spoke to her.
Yunalesca's defeat of Sin comes at a sad point in her life. Her best friend, Lenne Fetmar, and Zaon's best friend, Shuyin Bacohl, were felled by Bevelle bullets no more than a week ago while trying to penetrate Bevelle's defenses from the inside. Yunalesca, however, feels the need to go on.
"I'm doing it for Lenne and Shuyin." She said in an interview shortly before beginning her journey, "They would have done the same for me."
So, accompanied by Shuyin's cousin, Squall Leonhart, and a group of the best SeeDs from Balamb Garden – nicknamed the Liberi Fatali, "The Children of the Fate" because of the SeeD belief in being destined to defeat the ultimate evil, Yunalesca sets out to defeat Sin.
Yuna's eyes locked with one small sentence and gasped. Liberi Fatali…Children of the Fate. That was the name of the strange chant Shuyin remembered hearing. So it was connected to Squall. She smacked herself lightly on the forehead, "Why did I leave that book in Zanarkand?!" she asked herself.
Well, there was only one thing to do now and that was go to Zanarkand…
END SCENE
"So where exactly are we…?" Seifer asked as he followed Paine into a strange looking town with the ugliest people he'd ever seen. It looked like veins were popping out of their faces. They were really creepy…
"This is Guadosalam." Paine explained as she led Seifer up a sharp incline toward a strange cave-like structure that lay a few yards ahead.
"I thought we were going to that Farplane place."
Paine stopped and pointed toward the cavernous opening, "That is the Farplane. It's a place where the dead are sent to rest in peace. The Guado that live in Guadosalam take care of it."
"Wait just a Hynedamn minute!"
"What's Hyne?"
Seifer shrugged, "Just a deity…don't worry about it. Anyway, you're going to take me into some place where dead people live?! I don't think so!"
"It's not haunted by ghosts or anything," replied Paine, "You can speak to those who pass, but only if you call them to you. If you don't, they don't come."
Seifer still didn't budge. He hated to admit when he was frightened, but he was. If this dream thing was real (and that was a really big if in his opinion) than couldn't he technically…
"Couldn't I summon myself in there if I'm really the dream everybody thinks I am?"
Paine nodded, "That's true. You could technically summon anybody that came with you, but you won't as long as you don't think about them."
"That's easy for you to say…" he muttered as he begrudgingly followed Paine toward the cave. She spoke quietly with the Guado standing guard until the man stepped aside and allowed them both to enter.
The Farplane was by far the strangest place he had ever been. Ultimecia had taken him to strange places and had made him do even stranger things, but the Farplane was nothing like them. The walls shimmered and yet it appeared as if they didn't exist at the same time. Paine seemed to know just where she was going and Seifer just followed along behind her. As they stepped through a portal, he found himself on a giant floating rock in the middle of nowhere. While it was an incredibly cool sight, Seifer suddenly remembered with startling clarity that he was petrified of heights…
He felt his breath hitch in his throat and he grabbed Paine's arm like a sissy, "Can we make this quick…?" he asked, breath sounding raspy in his own ears, "I…I don't like heights…"
She stared at him, incredulously, "You don't like heights?" she repeated, "And you're supposed to be some big tough knight…" she snorted derisively and pulled her arm away from him, "This will only take a minute."
Seifer adamantly hoped so. He liked to keep his feet planted on solid ground and the only time he remembered not being afraid of heights was during Ultimecia's control, but he wasn't afraid of a lot of things back then. He wasn't afraid of Squall's gunblade, or Irvine's gun. Selphie's nunchaku didn't concern him, and neither did Zell's self-proclaimed "fists of fury".
Shit!
Seifer tried to erase those thoughts from his head but it didn't help and he watched as slowly each of them appeared in front of him.
"I thought I told you not to think about them!" Paine cried.
"I…I couldn't help it." Seifer admitted, wishing that he hadn't done it and yet immediately intrigued. So everyone was a dream. The real people were dead. Then that meant…
Seifer stared into the eyes of his arch enemy, but Squall didn't seem to notice him. Seifer took a breath, "Seifer Almasy…" he whispered.
And to Seifer's horror, his image appeared in front of him. He swallowed a lump that formed in his throat, "So I am a dream…" he muttered.
Paine nodded, "Apparently so, but let's just leave them alone. We came here for a purpose."
Bobbing his head in agreement, Seifer turned his back on the haunting images but noticed out of the corner of his eye that they faded back into the fog from whence they came. Paine stepped toward the fog and said a simple name, "Bruttam…"
END SCENE
Tidus heard footsteps behind him but didn't turn to face the intruder until Gippal was had taken a seat next to him on the cliff overlooking the lake. He glanced askance at the man, "I came here to be alone."
"I know that." Gippal replied, stretching his legs out in front of him and letting them dangle over the cliff's edge, "But I think that you and I need to talk about the stuff that's happened."
"Yuna sent you?"
Gippal laughed, "No, actually Rikku did. It was either that or she'd force me to eat more of that horrid potato soup she's been making me munch on since I woke up." Gippal waited for Tidus to smile or smirk or give some sign that he was the Tidus that Yuna loved more than her own life, but he gave none. He didn't even look at Gippal. He continued to stare out over the cliff, lost in his thoughts. Sighing, Gippal said, "Look, I know you're still pissed about the whole thing with me and Yuna but…"
"I could care less about that." Stated Tidus suddenly.
Gippal stared at the blitzer, "But I thought you were still mad at her. Isn't that why you're not talking to her?"
"I am mad," Tidus admitted, "but not about that."
"About what then?"
The blitzer's blonde hair swept against his cheeks as he lowered his head and stared down at his feet as if they were the most interesting things he'd ever seen, "Have you ever felt consumed by an anger that threatened to devour you, and you didn't know why?"
Gippal swallowed uncomfortably, "Um…no." he replied, dumbly, "Can't say that I have."
Tidus sighed, "I'm angry at everyone and everything and for no reason at all that I can think of."
"Well, there has to be a reason…"
Tidus shook his head, "There isn't one. I know there isn't one." He groaned and let himself fall back onto the soft earth behind him, "Maybe I'm just losing my mind."
"I don't think so." Replied Gippal, "You've been through a lot. It's natural to be angry and want to blame someone. That's probably all it is."
"But why would I blame Yuna…?" asked Tidus, but he didn't really expect an answer. There was no reasonable explanation for his blaming Yuna. He was angry at everyone, but he was the angriest at Yuna. He was afraid of what he'd do to her. So afraid that he didn't want to be around her for even a moment. He just needed to hide until he figured this out.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"Maybe you should talk to her," Gippal suggested, "It might make things clearer for you."
Tidus sat up suddenly and glared at Gippal, "Maybe you should mind your own damn business!" he spat, shoving Gippal violently away from him, "Get the hell away from me you damn nosey bastard!"
Gippal jumped to his feet and stared at Tidus, "What is the matter with you?!"
Tidus forced himself to take a deep breath and rose to his feet slowly and unsteadily, "I…I don't know." He admitted to Gippal as he took a step away and another, "But…but just leave me alone."
He could hear Gippal calling after him, but Tidus didn't stop to listen. He just took off running and made his way down to the beach. Water always cleared his head. If he could just dive in and forget everything for a moment than maybe things would start to make sense. He couldn't remember ever being this angry or feeling this out of control. Why did he snap at Gippal like that? What had he done to deserve it besides try to help? Besides, maybe he should talk to Yuna. Maybe it would make things better if he told her that he was avoiding her for good reason. That he still loved her. That he'd always love her.
Why was he angry at her in the first place? He didn't even care about the thing with Gippal anymore. That was water under the bridge and he was over it. So why was he still so angry at her? What had she done?
"You must stop! That's enough!"
Tidus blinked harshly and took a ragged breath, "She stopped me…that's what she did." He hissed under his breath. Then he bit his lip, "Stopped me from doing what?" he asked himself, "What is going on!"
"Tidus…?"
He spun around at the sound of his name and his blue eyes fixed on hers as she stared at him. She must have come up behind him while he was deep in thought. He hadn't heard her approach. He felt a mixture of emotions at seeing her standing in the moonlight looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her before. He felt the deepest kind of love he'd ever known, and he also felt the deepest kind of hatred.
"Were you looking for me?" she asked him, and he noticed that she took a step back rather than forward like she used to.
Had he been looking for her? He wasn't sure anymore. He shook his head, "No."
She nodded stiffly and took a sidestep to get passed him, "Well, I've got an errand to run, so I'll see you later." Tidus made no move to stop her but after a couple of seconds her footsteps in the sand stopped and he felt her eyes on him again, "Do you want to come with me?" There was hope in her voice. He knew that she wanted things to be the way they were. He wanted that too; more than she'd ever know.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He replied honestly. He still wasn't sure what had made him go off on Gippal like that. And he was equally unsure of why the rage he felt seemed to boil over when he was around her.
He could feel her disappointment before she even voiced it. It was strange how well he knew her. She sighed, "I wish that you would talk to me. We have a lot to discuss."
"Okay…" he said without thinking. His mouth had responded without his mind's agreement and he found himself unable to change his mind. He wanted to talk to her. Maybe she could help him figure out what was going on.
Her hand gently touched his shoulder, sliding down his muscular arm to his gloved hand which she gently squeezed. He squeezed her back softly and she whispered, "Let's go talk on the ship. It's quieter in there."
Neither spoke as they slowly made their way up the gangplank and into the crew's quarters on the ship. So much had happened in that very room. He'd made love to Yuna, been possessed by Shuyin, been forced to watch through his eyes while Shuyin pretended to be him in and out of bed with Yuna, and – more recently – stumbled upon Gippal's bloodied body and not knowing why.
Yuna sat down on the corner of the nearest bed to the stairs and Tidus took a seat at the bed opposite her. She bit her lower lip – a move she made when she was extremely nervous – and finally spoke, "I'm going to apologize again for what happened with Gippal. It was wrong and I'm sorry that I hurt you…"
"I don't care about that." Tidus interrupted her, raising a hand to silence her words, "I'm not angry about that."
"Then what are you angry about?"
"I…I don't know."
He could read her expression before she uttered a word. She was confused and she didn't understand what he meant. He felt the same way and told her as much. He was furious with her for reasons he couldn't comprehend, but it didn't make the feeling any less real.
"So I'm being punished for something I didn't do?"
"Decency? I didn't do anything wrong!"
"I think we just had a misunderstanding. Lenne that was…"
"I don't recall asking you to butt in Zaon…!"
Tidus felt his ire rise, "Sucks doesn't it?" he spat at her, rising to his feet and standing over her until he saw in her eyes that she was intimidated by his physical presence.
"What are you talking about?" Yuna asked, standing herself so that their eyes were on the same level.
"So Shuyin was back, I suppose." Tidus continued, ignoring her question.
Yuna nodded, "What about it?"
He glared at her, "Did you fuck him again?!"
"No…" replied Yuna.
Tidus faked a shocked look, "What?! You mean, he wasn't pretending to be me and you weren't stupid enough to believe it!" he placed a hand over his heart and gasped, "I'm shocked!"
Yuna's lower lip quivered but she held firm and narrowed her eyes at him, "I don't know what your problem is," she whispered quietly, but with a serious tone in her voice, "but I won't let you talk to me like that…"
"You won't let me! Who in Spira do you think you are? You can't tell me what to do, Shuyin!"
"You are my girlfriend! I don't want…Lenne, I don't want to lose you! I almost lost you and I couldn't deal with it if I actually did. I think I'd go crazy!"
"It's my job, Shuyin. You left me to go to your job and I was attacked! Is your job more important than mine?"
"Wait just a second! Are you saying you blame me for your being attacked?"
"Maybe if you'd have been here the attacker would have just had two people to stab. Then again, maybe if you'd have been here, I wouldn't have been hurt! We'll never know, will we?"
"I can't believe this! You blame me! You're trying to make me feel guilty so that I will let you go to war!"
"I'll go to war whether you let me or not."
"Oh no you won't!"
"Oh yes I will!"
Tidus felt an uncontrollable rage form in him then, "You have fucked up everything for both of us for the last time you snotty little bitch!" he shrieked, grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving her up against the wall so hard that the vase on the nearby bed stand fell the floor and shattered.
"Tidus…!"
He ignored her cries, slamming the back of his hand against her cheek with a force that caused her head to spin to the side, "Shut up!!" he shouted, smacking her again with his other hand.
He saw Yuna's tears as she lifted her hands to try and shield herself from his attack, but he was blinded with rage and didn't react to them. Why was he so angry?!
"Tidus! Stop it!!" she cried as he hit her again.
"Stop it! I don't want to hear it anymore, Shuyin! I understand that you don't want me to go, but the fact is I am going! Get used to it!"
It wasn't until he saw blood coming from her delicate nose that Tidus fully realized what he had been doing. He had been hitting the only girl he'd ever loved and now she was staring at him like she'd never seen him before. Fear was shining in her eyes where love used to be and Tidus took a step back, fearful of himself too at that moment. What was he? Some sort of a monster? Yuna's nose was bloodied and her cheeks were red and would probably be bruised by the morning.
"Yuna…" he whispered.
"…don't…" she choked out, raising her arms in front of her to ward him off, "Leave me alone."
"Yu…" he managed, but backed away nonetheless. She had ever right to be scared of him. He was scared of himself. Why was he feeling like this toward her?
Why?!
"He doesn't suspect anything."
She had betrayed him. That was why…
"Well where is he now?"
"He's out getting food."
"Gippal's anxious to end this, Lennie. Should we send in the troops now?"
"No, not yet. I still haven't found out what his exact plan is yet. We need to know just in case he escapes."
"When do you think you'll know?"
"Soon, I hope. But…I just hate doing this to him Rikku. No matter how much he deserves it."
"I understand."
"I'll call back in later. He'll be back soon."
"Okay. We'll be waiting for your next call."
"Hi there…Shu…what…"
"I heard you…I trusted you. How could you do this to me?"
"Shu…I can explain
"I love you Lennie. Really, I do, but I don't want to hear your excuses."
"You betrayed me…." Tidus said quietly, feeling that now familiar flame of anger burning inside of him again. He took a step toward Yuna and then another until she could feel his breath on her face.
"Tidus…" she whispered, warily.
"BITCH!" he shouted suddenly, his fist flying toward her face. Yuna closed her eyes to prepare for the impact, but all she heard was the sound of crunching and a loud bang. She opened her eyes and found Tidus' hand wedged inside the hole it had created in the steel wall of the Celsius mere inches from her head.
END SCENE
Finding a spare minute for herself had been difficult, but Rinoa finally managed it. The perfect place to hide was directly behind the temple. She knelt and closed her eyes. She needed perfect concentration. It was absolutely imperative that this go off without a hitch. Not only would it distract the do-gooders for a while, but it would also pull Shuyin out of his little hiding place. She assumed that wherever Yuna was keeping him wasn't far because the girl was in and out of Besaid more often than not. In fact, she had been around for going on three days now.
Wherever Shuyin was, he must be getting hungry.
Shaking her head, she went back to focusing on the task at hand. This incantation needed to be recited perfectly. One minor mistake would ruin her chances. She'd never done anything like this before and wasn't sure if it would work, but she was willing to take her chances. She needed something to distract Yuna and her friends while she forced Shuyin to help her and she couldn't think of a better option…
END SCENE
Paine watched as the fayth child, Bruttam, appeared before her. He nodded at her and Seifer, "Can I help you?"
"What did you lie to us about?" Paine demanded. She was never one to beat around the bush. She had always thought something was off about Bruttam's easy explanations concerning everything, but had shrugged it off. Maybe if she hadn't, this wouldn't be happening now.
If the fayth had pigment, she would have sworn she saw Bruttam pale at the question. He didn't answer for a moment but when he did his voice took on an almost angry tone, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do." Seifer snapped, "Ellone told me that you lied to Yuna and her friends and we want to know what you lied about."
Bruttam frowned, "Ellone told you, hmmm…?"
"Yes."
"Well," replied the child, "she was mistaken."
Paine scoffed, "Somehow I doubt that. Just tell us so that we can fix this." She pointed at Bruttam and waved her finger, "Shuyin is back and Tidus is gone. Someone possessed Rikku and made her try to kill Gippal. Just tell us what you lied about and why."
The fayth child stared deeply into Paine's eyes, "I didn't lie." Bruttam insisted, "but I did stretch the truth. If I had told everyone exactly what was happening, it would have caused much pain." He sighed, "The lie was better for everyone." He stopped and looked at Seifer, "What did Ellone tell you?"
"Yuna and her friends think 1 plus 1 equals 2, but in reality 2 becomes 1." Seifer repeated.
Paine asked, "Does that mean the merger is continuing?"
"There is no merger." The fayth child said, "There never was…"
"Wha….?" Gasped Paine, stepping forward to ask another question when a strange sound echoed over the Farplane. It sounded like…a voice.
Redivivus advocatus diaboli…
"What is that?" Paine asked, spinning around only to find that Bruttam had vanished. Seifer pulled out his gunblade as the ground began to shake more violently.
"It sounds like…" Seifer squinted, "…Rinoa…?"
Paine pulled her sword out as well, "Baralai!" she shouted, "Baralai, can you hear me?"
"Please don't call anymore of your dead friends!" Seifer shouted, "We've got enough problems."
Dixi et coniunctis…
"Paine?" came Baralai's voice. Relief washed over Paine and she spun to face the ghostly image of her friend.
"What's going on?!" Paine asked.
"I don't know." Replied Baralai, "We're looking into it, but you have to get out of here for now."
"Maybe we can help." Suggested Paine.
"No." Baralai insisted, "The Farplane's instability is being maximized. You need to get out while you still can."
De profundis resurgam…
Seifer was in no mood to let Paine continue to argue with the ghost friend. He grabbed her wrist and began to pull her toward the exit, "Let's just listen to the nice dead guy and get the fuck out of here!" he shouted over the groan of the Farplane floor.
A laugh echoed off the walls and by the time the two reached the exit to the Farplane it was too late. A swift breeze came from behind them and blew past them, causing the walls to vibrate with a dramatic intensity. Stones and boulders fell from out of nowhere and he heard Paine scream in terror as the walls of the Farplane came crashing down around them.
And then there was nothing…
LATIN TRANSLATION
Redivivus advocatus diaboli dixi et coniunctis de profundis resurgam: Come back to life, the devil's advocate, I have spoken. And with united powers up from the depths of misery I shall rise again