Chapter 5
"Welcome to Ze Moonflow!! Will you be needing ze Shoopuf today?" A Shoopuf driver asked.
"Yes, we need to cross the Lake." Yuna softly told him.
"Z'ok!! Wait here while I go get ze Shoopuf ready." He told Yuna and walked off.
"Do they always talk like that? With the 'ze' accent?" Tidus asked.
"Every culture is unlike. They all don't talk, act, and believe like everyone else, you know. Everyone is different." Lulu stiffly told him.
"Okay, okay. Jeez, I was just asking." Tidus said, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"What are ya all blabbing about!!? ALL OF YOU BOARD ZE SHOOPUF NOW!!!" The Shoopuf driver demanded.
So, as instructed by the driver, they quickly boarded the giant shoopuf and it began to make its way across the lake.
"You know, the lake looks really pretty at night when all the pyreflies float and drift over the water, with the moon reflecting in the water, it's really pretty. We should stay tonight to see it!" Rikku said.
"I dunno. You know we don't have time for sightseeing." Wakka told her.
"Um, Wakka, I would..like to see it too, if it's okay. Just for one night." Yuna spoke softly, not trying to upset him.
"Yeah! Then that would give you time to explain to Tidus about-uh, stuff." Rikku said but cut herself off when she saw Yuna looking at her saddened.
"For Yuna, okay, but just for one night." Wakka said.
"YAY!!!!" Rikku said jumping up and down in the basket.
"Stop ze banging back there!! Vant am I suppose to do if you fall over? NOW ZIT DOWN AND SHUTUP...were almost there." The shoopuf driver told them.
"Geeez, someONE is a bit cranky TOday!!" Rikku said insultingly.
"HEY! Don't make me come back there!" He threatened.
"OOOOO I'm so scared." Rikku shouted sarcastically. "Zhut the hell up you bitchy slut!!!" The shoopuf driver insultingly told her.
"Bitchy slut!? Why I outta kick your sorry little pathetic ass you son of a- "
"I think that's enough." Tidus said placing his hand over Rikku's mouth, interrupting her.
"Good for nothing blondes these days." The Shoopuf driver mumbled to himself.
Rikku crossed her arms and glared evilly at the driver.
'I wonder why Wakka said yes to Yuna about staying for the night at Moonflow but no to Rikku. She might be the summoner but even so.' Tidus thought.
Once they had reached the other side of the lake, the sun was slowly setting as it began to become dark. They were all staying in an inn that night and Yuna wondered off to the beautiful lake of Moonflow with Rikku and Tidus was off exploring in a nearby forest.
Wakka, Lulu and Kimahri were sitting at a table in the lobby when they heard the door open, and to their surprise, it was Auron.
"Auron, buddy!! Your okay!" Wakka said.
"Yeah. Thanks for waiting for me." Auron simply said.
Wakka smiled. "Well, no hard feelings or anything but we thought you were dead."
"Glad to know I'm appreciated." Auron told him.
Soon after Seymour entered the Inn and approached them.
"Lord Seymour, what brings you here?" Lulu asked.
"I have come to see how you were all doing. Forgive me for putting you all in tremendous danger yesterday." Seymour explained (In his creepy voice that makes you think he's nice but really isn't).
"We're all fine." Auron simply told him.
"Good. Also, where is Lady Yuna? I must talk with her at this moment if its not too much trouble." Seymour asked.
"At the moment she is at Lake Moonflow, wished not to be disturbed." Wakka replied.
"I understand. A lot has happened to her. When she returns, see to it that she receives this letter. For her eyes only. Of course as guardian you respect her privacy." Seymour said, handing the note to Auron.
"I'll make sure she receives it." Auron told him. "Very well. I shall leave now. My apologies once again. Well farewell, until next we meet." Seymour said with an awkward smile as he left the Inn.
Auron looked around the room. "Where are Tidus and Rikku?" He asked.
"Rikku is with Yuna and Tidus is off wondering." Wakka told him.
Auron began to walk to his room for the night but suddenly stopped in front of his door. "When Tidus gets back, tell him the rest about Yuna." He told them.
"Are you sure? So soon?" Wakka asked.
"News will break Tidus' heart." Kimahri slowly said.
"As a guardian, he must know, no matter how heartbreaking it will be. We can't continue not to tell him." Auron explained then entered his room.
"Kimahri knows that Tidus will not like it." Kimahri said.
"So who is going to tell him?" Wakka asked.
"Kimahri think Wakka should." Kimahri said.
"WHAT!? Why me?" He asked.
"Because it's your fault he's here. He is your responsibility and you better make sure he gets the message!" Lulu told him.
"Jeez Lu, why do you hate him so much?" Wakka asked.
"He doesn't and will never belong here. I never liked him and never will." Lulu replied coldly.
Just as she finished her sentence, Tidus walked through the door and everyone turned towards him.
Tidus looked at them awkerdly. "What? Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
"Good that he's here. Now Wakka can explain everything to him. I'm off to bed, goodnight." Lulu said then entered her room.
"Kimahri go to sleep too. Need strength for tomorrow." Kimahri said then walked into his room.
"Ya Tidus, I got some things to let you so listen up." Wakka said feeling rather sad.
Tidus walked over to the table and sat down with Wakka.
"I'm listening." Tidus told him.
"We didn't tell you everything about when Yuna will call the Final Aeon. You see, in the process of summoning the Aeon, one must take its place in a sacrifice, because in order for the summoning to be complete it requires the soul of whom is summoning the beast." Wakka told him as best as he could.
"I don't understand. Is Yuna going away somewhere? Or are the Aeons?" Tidus told him.
"Tidus..Yuna is.." Wakka began.
"Oh I know!! Yuna is going to sacrifice the Final Aeon to Sin, right? No wait..Yuna is-"
"GOING TO DIE!!! Yuna is going to sacriface her soul to the Final Aeon to defeat SIN!" Wakka shouted.
From hearing this, Tidus almost fell out of his chair, but quickly regained balance and stood up.
"WHAT!? What the hell are you talking about? That's not-NO! Its not possible! Wakka, tell me that's not going to happen!" Tidus shouted at him.
"Tidus I-There is nothing I can do. It's the only way to defeat Sin." Wakka replied sadly.
"No! There has to be another way! There must be! She can't die! Yuna can't- Why didn't you tell me sooner!? Before I..." Tidus said but unable to finish his sentence.
"I'm sorry." He told him, walking over and placing his hand on Tidus' shoulder but he immediately pushed it away and took a few steps away from him.
"No...It can't be." Tidus said to himself almost beginning to burst out in tears. "After all those things I said to her..all for nothing. Why does it have to be this way Wakka!? WHY?" Tidus said then ran out the door.
Tidus stormed away from the Inn, not caring where he was going.
'Why does this have to happen? Sure Yuna may of knew of the consequences but why continue on? Why rush into death? She's only 17 and ready to die, ready to sacrifice her self to Spira. There has to be a way to save her, a way so she doesn't have to leave, to not die in the end. Stupid Sin, why does Spira have to be so full of death? People die and they turn into feinds who hurt and kill others. Summoners die to defeat Sin, which will just be reborn in a few years. Sin that goes where it pleases and kills. So full of death and....we can't do anything to stop it.' Tidus thought.
As he continued to walk, he came across the beach where he saw Rikku and Yuna. But Tidus couldn't believe what he saw that night.
"No tears Yuna." Rikku told her.
"Okay." Yuna said then turned around towards the water and began to walk on it. Walking on water!? Was Tidus dreaming or was this really real. Yuna took out her staff and began to dance. The dance, filled with unhappiness and sorrow, she continued. All the nearby pyreflies drifting and floating around her began to dance with her.
Tidus moved closer. Rikku heard him approaching and turned to him.
"Tidus!? Are you okay?" She asked but Tidus paid no attention to her. He saw her dancing, waving her staff around on the water. The moon reflecting off the water, shining on Yuna, making her look like an angel dancing, bringing joy and warmth.
"What is Yuna doing?" Tidus asked.
"It's called The Sending. Yuna performs a ritual to send all the lost souls to a place called the Farplane, where they may rest in peace." Rikku explained.
"So its like sending souls to heaven?" Tidus asked.
"Yeah." Rikku replied.
Rikku looked up at him, seeing that he would never once take his gaze off of her. Just staring at her like he never did before. Rikku began to slowly walk backwards until she was out of sight and headed back to the Inn. She knew he would want to be alone with her.
After Yuna's Sending was complete, the water began to return to a calm state leaving Yuna stand there in the depth of it. Yuna knew that Tidus was there standing behind her, as she felt the ripples of the water against her body as he walked into the water.
Yuna closed her eyes and looked down. "I thought I could help everyone..and still be able to laugh in the end. I've been trying so hard."
"Maybe..you're trying to hard." Tidus spoke, his voice in such tenderness and love. Yuna loved the way he would talk to her like that. Tidus then looked down, staring into the water. "They told me..everything."
"Everything? Well then, you know." Yuna told him her voice was soft but also dripping into hurt, despair and sadness.
"I'm sorry. Its just that all those things I said, like, lets go get Sin or about Zanarkand..I didn't know what would happen to you. I guess..I hope I didn't make you sad."
Tidus lifted his head from staring into the water and looked at, her back facing him, "Forgive me?" He spoke deeply..then it hit her.
She opened her eyes and looked up but still not turning to him. His words, voice, eyes, they held longing..longing and love.
"I wasn't sad. I was happy." Yuna told him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she spoke the words she felt so heavily in her heart. She then turned to him.
"You should stop if it makes you feel so bad." Tidus told her.
"Stop trying?"
"No, the pilgrimage. Forget about being a summoner and Sin. You know, live a normal life, simple and carefree." He said.
"That would..be nice." Sure she was thinking about it but truthfully could she really..Or would she be a traitor to her people who are depending on her so much.
By this time, Tidus had gone underwater and snuck up behind Yuna. She turned around and laughed from being startled.
"But so many people are depending on me to revive Spira, you know, make it a Sin free world like your Zanarkand." Yuna spoke.
"I know." Although he wanted to change her mind with a doubt he couldn't change it. "But you know, do you really want to go through this? I mean, are you really ready?"
Yuna knew that Tidus would be so happy if she gave up and decided to live a normal life. A lone tear escaped her eye lid and rolled down her cheek and finally falling into the water, causing ripples and she knew that, at that moment Tidus had seen her sad face so she continued to look at the clear water surrounding her body rather then meeting his pitying gaze.
"Yuna?" He asked, full of concern yet confusion at the same time.
"I can't.....I just can't" Yuna cried.
She quickly turned around and headed for shore. Tidus stood there for a moment lost in thought then he quickly cased after her. She made to the shore when Yuna heard him call her name but she didn't stop.
Tidus quickly ran out of the water and caught up to her, gently grabbing her arm and making her face him.
"I know I can't change your mind but..I..don't want you to go through this. I don't want you to die." Tidus told her.
His eyes, rather reflecting the beautiful shade of blue from the moon, looked saddened. Knowing the truth and her decision he does not turn away from her like Yuna thought he would of done, rather him watch her sink into sadness and despair.
Yuna continued to gaze into his eyes feeling the same sadness and hurt but dares not to speak. He places his hands on her shoulders and slowly leans in and softly kisses her. Maybe it was love she saw in his eyes at that moment but before further observation could occur, she closed her eyes and deepened the kiss.
Tidus had broken the kiss afterwards and slid his hands down to her waist. "I promise, I won't let you die. I'll find a way to save you."
Yuna smiled with warmth in her heart. Those eyes..looking so peaceful and loving..who could resist? She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another kiss..wishing to never let go..
"I'll continue my pilgrimage. I must." Yuna said as she lay in his lap.
"Okay." Tidus said with acceptance but with sadness as well.
"If I give up now then..it would be just to hard to do anything else. Even if I was with you..I wouldn't have been able to laugh." Yuna explained.
"I'll go with you."
Yuna tried to say 'what' but afterwards it came out to be a smile. "Stay with me until then end..Please..?" Yuna begged.
"Not until the end..always." Tidus said looking down at her.
"Always then." Yuna liked the sound of that. Making her feel so much calmer inside.
Afterwards both stood up and began to walk back to the Inn, hand-in-hand.
Once they entered the Inn, they released their grip from one another and treated the situation like nothing happened. The only person who was still awake was Wakka but once he saw the last two remaining people enter the Inn, he decided to go to bed along with Tidus and Yuna.
As they all woke in the morning they all met down in the lobby. Auron approached Yuna with the letter.
"Yuna, this is a message from Seymour." Auron said handing her the note. Yuna unfolded the paper and began to read it.
"Well!!? What does it say?" Rikku asked excitedly.
"He wants us to go to GuadoSalam to discuss important business." Yuna replied.
"I don't know about this. Like, should we even trust this guy? After all he did put us through danger up at Mushroom Rock place." Tidus said.
"Its Yuna's decision. She will decide if we are to go or not. Yuna?" Auron said.
Yuna nodded. "We will go. Only for a short while." Yuna decided.
"Then its settled. Lets go." Auron said walking out of the Inn.
Yuna looked at Tidus who looked a bit uncertain if they should go see him, but she turned, leaving the Inn. The others soon followed, heading for GuadoSalam, their next destination.
Whew! Another Chapter done! This one was a little longer then the others. I would know cause it ended up to be 8 pages when I was typing it. Ah well. There are a WHOLE lot more chapters to come so R R and I'll get the next chapters up.