Only In Theory
Chapter 2:Rubbing Off
Koshi sat up in her bed and stretched, the events of the night before still fresh in her mind. "Jecht…" A tear began to from her eye, but she quickly wiped it away. She wasn't going to cry, not yet, she had made a promise and she was going to keep it.
But over the past ten years, keeping that promise had become difficult. Braska was dead, Jecht was sin, and Auron…. She was the only one left, and now she found her self guarding the daughter of her friend and past summoner.
Koshi sighed, and pushed herself out of bed. She looked out the window, the sun hadn't quite risen yet and for this she was glad; she wanted to get an early start helping the people of Killika rebuild their homes.
After bathing the dressing, Koshi left the inn, and found that Wakka and his team mates were already at work.
"Morning Wakka!" Koshi called, waving a hand.
"Hey, morning! Come to help us, ya?" Wakka smiled.
"Yep, what can I do?"
"Well, there's some food and medical supplies on the ship. Take 'em to the people, see if they need anything, ya?"
"No prob." Koshi strolled casually to the ship and grabbed a few boxes.
Hours passed, and the sun finally rose. Yuna had gotten up not long after Koshi and Wakka, and Lulu not long after that, but Tidus…he was just getting up now. Koshi watched him stretch and yawn outside the inn, and smirked. 'Late sleeper, just like his father.' She thought to herself.
"Hey, sleepy, Yuna wants to go to the temple so get a move on will ya!" Koshi called out.
"Huh? Oh right, the temple."
Koshi smiled. He was so clueless. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, I'll go with ya. The others are waiting any way."
Koshi and Tidus walked across the beaten planks of wood and past the decimated homes, destroyed by Sin only yesterday. Koshi hadn't told Tidus yet about his father, but she knew he would have to be told, and she didn't want to be the one to do it. She could hardly believe it was true herself. That all this destruction, all this sadness, all of Spira's pain, was caused by Jecht. But as she walked, looking at the people around her, she was reminded of what had to be done, though she wished with all her heart it wasn't so.
"Uh, are you ok?"
Koshi shook her self out of her dreamy little state, to find Tidus starring at her rather concerned. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking, that's all." She smiled her biggest, fakest smile and patted junior on the back. He seemed to buy it, and smiled back.
"Hey, there you are! What were you planning on sleeping for the entire pilgrimage?" Wakka joked, grabbing Tidus and putting in a head lock.
"Hey, I'm sorry ok. Gees, lemme go!" Tidus squirmed in Wakka's grip but was not use; Wakka was to strong for him.
"That's enough you two. We have to get to the temple; we can't waist any more time." The others nodded at Koshi's words and started on their way. Koshi, however, stayed behind a moment smiling at her words. "Guess you're rubbing off on me, sweet cheeks." A new tear formed in her eye, but this time Koshi did not stop it. She let it roll down her cheek and plop onto the ground.
"Hey Koshi, you comin' or what?" Tidus called out.
Koshi wiped her face, and smiled. "Right behind you!" She ran off to join the others.
"Hey, how about a race?" Wakka said, patting Tidus on the back as the group approached the stairs leading to the temple.
"A race huh?" Tidus smiled. "Ok. Yuna, why don't you start us off."
"Oh sure," Yuna bowed, as she was prone to doing. "On your marks, get set-" with a quick little giggle, Yuna run up the stairs ahead of the others.
"Hey!" Tidus called out, but it was too late, everyone was bounding up the steps towards the top.
Koshi pulled up to the front, keeping to perfect step with Wakka. "I'm gunna win this one, Wakka."
Wakka smiled. "Not if I can help it!"
"Help! Sin spawn!" One of the monks from the temple came running down the stairs, nearly knocking Wakka and Koshi over.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down. Now what's the problem?" Wakka tried to calm the monk down.
"Sin spawn, in front of the temple. Hurry!" The monk pushed passed the group in terror.
Koshi smiled at Tidus as she drew her sword, "Now's your chance to prove your self junior! Let's go!"
Koshi raced up the stairs the others not far behind. "Lu, you take the center, hit with any magic you can muster, Tidus you take the left and I'll take the right. Be ready to strike when it lets it's guard down." Tidus and Lulu nodded, getting into position. "Then rest of you, guard Yuna!"
Lulu hit the hideous spawn with various fire spells, until it finally weakened enough for Koshi and Tidus to work it over.
"Tidus look out!" Koshi called as one of the fiend's finger like tentacles whapped down on Tidus. She ran towards it, and sliced through the beast with a series of quick slashes and stabs. At last the spawn gave out a painful scream and collapsed, it body floating away into a dozen pyre flies.
"You ok?" Koshi asked, reaching a hand out to Tidus.
"Yeah, I think so." Tidus took Koshi's hand and brushed himself off. "How's Yuna?"
"I'm fine." Yuna smiled.
"Well, if we're all ok, then let's head inside." Koshi lead the way into the temple.
"Hey, come on. You gotta pray for victory, ya?" Wakka grabbed Tidus and knelt down to pray. The other's watched silently. Just as Wakka and Tidus finished up, a woman summoner and her guardian approached.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lady Yuna."
Yuna walked over to the woman. "Hello." Yuna bowed politely.
"I am Lady Donna and this is Bartello. On your way to pray to the Fayth, I see. Must be nice, being the daughter of Lord Braska."
"It is an honor to have such a father, but I do not take advantage of his name." Yuna said, meekly.
Lady Donna smirked and gave a glare to the others on her way out.
"What a bitch." Koshi mumbled to her self. "Come on Yuna, let's go do what we came here to do."
Yuna bowed in agreement, and she and the rest headed for the cloister of trials.
"Not so fast, only summoner and guardians past this point." Wakka said shoving Tidus back.
"Oh, come on, can't you break the rules just once for me?"
"No can do. Rules and rules. Besides, Yuna could get into trouble, ya?"
Tidus folded his arms but waited patiently as the others went down.
"Wonder how long I'll have to wait he-ahhhh!"