DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX or FFX-2 or any of the characters or places associated with it. I do, however, own the twisted idea for this story.

DO NOT COPY MY STORIES!!

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I have had problems with my fics being stolen. Reviewers of the Silver Wings trilogy know all about the situation. Please keep an eye out for this story or any of my others posted on any other sites. I only post here and I only use the name "akksgurl". If you think my story has been stolen, please contact me so that I can look into the situation. Thanks a lot in advance for your help.

Author's Notes: Things are starting to come together now. What will happen next? You'll just have to wait and see J


TWISTED DESTINY
by akksgurl
Chapter Fourteen: Sorry, so Sorry

He hadn't meant to be so gruff with her. It had all come out more angrily than he'd wanted. He was angry with her. He was furious, actually, but he hadn't wanted to scream at her like that. He'd just wanted her to go away so he could think things through, but she hadn't listened. She'd insisted on trying to make him feel better. Like that was going to happen. Didn't she realize that he'd never feel better again? That he didn't even really feel like he should feel better anymore. Not now that Shuyin and Lenne would never feel anything again.

He stopped rolling in his wheelchair halfway down the hall and leaned his head against the wall. Why did it have to be them? Two of the nicest people anywhere. It should have been him. It should have been him who was staring down the barrels of those guns, counting the last seconds of his life. It shouldn't have been Shuyin. He was always the good one. He was the one that couldn't do anything wrong. He was the star son, the star brother, the star blitzer, the star boyfriend. All Tidus was, was an airship wreck of phobias, prejudice, and idiosyncrasies that morphed into one second rate person. He hadn't deserved to even know Shuyin or Lenne.

Or Yuna…

Tidus sighed softly. Why had he told her he loved her? Why'd he do that? It had just come flying out of his mouth without him realizing it. Had he meant it? He wasn't entirely sure. He'd never been in love with anyone in his entire life – except for maybe himself during his arrogant phase at 16. He'd made a pact with himself that he'd never let it happen to him. It only ended up hurting yourself and everyone around you. His mother was a perfect example.

And yet…

Maybe he had meant it. He felt a tightening around his heart at the thought of Yuna leaving his life – his world – and never coming back. That tightening had to mean love. Or it was the beginning stages of a heart attack. Either way Tidus figured that they both meant eventual death. A heart attack would just be quicker.

Tidus slowly continued making his way down the hall until he reached his bedroom at the far end and pushed himself onto the bed from the chair. He lay on his back with his hands resting on his chest, examining the ceiling. He could still hear the sound of guns firing and the sight of Shuyin and Lenne falling to the ground in crumpled heaps.

He shook his head violently. He didn't want to lay there and remember that. It would haunt his dreams enough in the night. It didn't need to haunt them in the day. He sat up slowly and reached for the telephone. He needed to get out. Maybe Reanna wanted to…

He stopped, his hand shaking and tears threatening to spill. Reanna was gone. He'd almost forgotten. How could he have forgotten? He'd seen her death with his own eyes as the chandelier made contact with her head. How could he have forgotten that? Or maybe he hadn't forgotten. Maybe he was just trying to block out all the tragedy so that he could heal. He'd heard of people in traumatic events blocking out their memory so they could move on. Maybe that's what was happening with him? Maybe eventually he'd live in his own little world, totally sheltered from the outside.

Or maybe Sin would just show up early and put him out of his misery.

When would Sin arrive? Yuna had been right about everything else. It was only a matter of time now. He was almost relishing the idea. He didn't have anything left in Zanarkand anymore. Death was all that awaited him and it wouldn't be much more of a wait.

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Djose Temple was crawling with Al Bhed when Lulu led her group up to the entrance. Machina was all around the entrance and to the sides while parts of the machina were littering every other location. Rikku glared at two of the Al Bhed guards standing watch in front of the doors, "Fryd'c kuehk uh rana?" (What's going on here?) she asked angrily, "Frana'c Gippal?" (Where's Gippal?)

"Gippal ec ehceta. Fruca ycgehk vun res?" (Gippal is inside. Who's asking for him?) came the reply from a goggle faced Al Bhed no taller than Rikku.

The blonde pulled herself up to her full height and replied haughtily, "E ys Cid'c tyikrdan. E tasyht du caa Gippal!" (I am Cid's daughter. I demand to see Gippal.)

Both Al Bhed started tripping over each other to move out of her way, muttering apologies in their language. Rikku smiled back at Lulu and Wakka, "Come on!" she said, waving them forward.

If the outside of the temple looked like Yevon's worst nightmare, than the inside most surely was. There were no less than 30 machina surrounded by even more Al Bhed tinkering away and bringing life to these creations. It was going to be nearly impossible to find Gippal in this sea of Al Bhed. Wakka frowned, "Blasphemous. Simply blasphemous. Inside the temple!"

Lulu agreed, "What is Gippal thinking."

"He's not." Rikku replied with a shrug, "That's the problem."

Gippal was not as difficult to find as they had originally perceived. He crossed the room directly in front of them within moments of their entering the temple, "Oui! Tuh'd bid dryd drana!" (You! Don't put that there!) he shouted, pointing at a lanky Al Bhed in tan overalls, "Ed kuac ujan drana!" (It goes over there!)

"Gippal!" Rikku cried after he'd finished spewing his orders. He turned and looked at her and then Lulu and Wakka. Then he grinned at Rikku and said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Cid's girl. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I have a name!" Rikku squealed angrily, pouting in her best attempt to look cute and disarming. She knew that was the only way to get Gippal to do what she wanted.

Gippal just shrugged, "Yeah. What do you want?"

"You could ask a little nicer, you know!"

"But then that just wouldn't be me, would it?"

Rikku frowned but nodded, "No, I suppose it wouldn't be."

"So what do you want?"

And Rikku explained everything. She told him about the 15 journeys back and forth through the Thunder Plains – which Lulu clarified were only 5, and about Seymour's plans, and finally about Maechen and his inability to stay on track during a conversation. Then she stopped and took a deep breath, "So we need you to come with us so we're sure to see Baralai."

"Just one problem with that, Cid's girl." Gippal replied, "We're Al Bhed. We can't just go waltzing into Bevelle and even if we could, we can't see a high ranking Bevelle officer."

"But you're Baralai's friend!"

"True," Gippal admitted, "but I haven't seen him since the Crimson Squad…" he paused for a second and cleared his throat, "Since the Crimson Squad…broke up."

"But that was only…what…six months ago?" Rikku replied, arms akimbo, "Can't you just try?!"

Gippal was quiet for a moment and then nodded, "Okay, we'll give it a try. I don't think it'll work, but what the hey. I'm up for a game of bullet dodging!"

Excited beyond belief, Rikku flung her arms around Gippal's neck and kissed him. He didn't move and she remained frozen in place with her arms still wrapped around his neck. Had she really just done that? Oh how embarrassing! As casually as possible, Rikku released him and feigned a confidence she didn't feel. She kept telling herself to just act like she meant to do that. She turned her back to him and started to walk toward Wakka and Lulu who had hung back a few feet during the conversation.

"Oh my!" she mouthed to Lulu as a blush pinkened her cheeks a bit.

Lulu just smiled knowingly and turned to lead the group out of Djose Temple.

Rikku was mortified the entire way to Bevelle, but refused to show it to Gippal. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten to her. But had he really? She was the one that had kissed him. He hadn't technically done anything wrong…at least not this time which was undoubtedly unusual for the handsome Al Bhed. Nonetheless, Rikku was determined to act as though nothing was different.

Then he had to open his mouth, "So…why'd you kiss me?"

Rikku swore she heard Lulu and Wakka giggling quietly as they walked along a few feet ahead of them. If she hadn't just sworn to herself that she was going to act like the entire situation didn't faze her, she would have kicked them both in the butts and then broken Gippal's nose. Rikku lifted her nose in the air, "You call that a kiss? I've kissed fiends more passionately."

"You're into that sort of thing, are you? I never would have figured you for the kinky type."

Rikku gaped at him. Why must he always be so cocky and condescending? Why must he always be so exasperating? Why must he always be so gorgeous while doing it?! She decided it was best to not give him a response, but couldn't keep herself from sticking her tongue out at the taller man before jogging to catch up with Lulu and Wakka.

And so they remained for the rest of the trip to Bevelle. Lulu, Wakka, and Rikku walking together with Gippal trailing along behind. He caught up with them at the gates of Bevelle when they were stopped by Bevellian guards. Lulu nodded regally at them, "I am Lulu, one of Lady Yuna's former guardians. Myself and my companions wish to speak with Baralai."

The taller guard lifted his brow, "Do you have an appointment?"

Lulu shook her head, "No, but…"

"Then go." The man interrupted her, "The Maesters and future Maesters are busy at the moment making plans for the Calm and cannot be interrupted. Baralai is currently in a day long meeting."

"Now wait just a darn minute!" Rikku shouted, putting her hands on her hips and standing in a way she hoped was intimidating, "Baralai's gonna want to see us. Just tell him his friend Gippal is here."

The shorter guard's nostril's flared in indignation as he gazed from Rikku to Gippal who was still standing a ways back from the group, "Baralai has no Al Bhed friends."

Rikku glared at the man, leveling her gaze to his, "Yes…He…Does…" she growled, "Now get him or I'll make you get him."

The taller guard seemed amused and said to his partner, "Let's just tell Baralai and then they'll leave."

"I'll do it." The shorter one offered, "It'll be fun to see the look on his face at the mere suggestion that he'd lower himself to associate with Al Bheds."

Rikku continued to growl and glare at the shorter man as he went into the large doors they guarded. As they slammed shut and the taller man moved to stand between them both, she turned and stalked toward Gippal, "Imagine the nerve of those guys! They have a problem with us, but they think Seymour is the greatest thing since chocobos!"

Wakka shrugged, "It just takes time, ya. I didn't like you at first either."

"Yeah." Nodded Rikku.

The large doors swung open and the shorter guard walked out looking as if the proverbial wind had been taken from his sails. Behind him was one of the cutest guys Rikku had ever laid eyes on. His platinum blonde hair was almost white in the pale light from the Bevelle temple. He had a blue band wrapped around his head to keep his long locks from his eyes. The band matched his blue Bevellian robe that swept the floor as he walked.

Rikku tried not to gawk, yet to her surprise it was Lulu that failed miserably. Her friend's mouth fell open at the sight of Baralai and remained that way until he spoke, "Gippal! What on Spira brings you here?"

Gippal smiled at his friend, "Hi Baralai. We needed to ask you about something.'

"Absolutely. I'll answer anything I can." He smiled at Lulu, Wakka, and Rikku, "Lady Yuna's guardians, I see. I recognize you from the celebration of Sin's defeat." He extended his hand to each of them in turn, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Baralai, studying to be a priest of Yevon, although truth be told I'm more of an errand boy at the moment."

"I'm Lulu." Said the mage.

"I'm Wakka."

Rikku smiled flirtatiously at Baralai, "I'm Rikku."

Baralai's eyes lit up and he smiled, "Oh so you're the Rikku that Gippal talked endlessly about!"

Rikku glanced askance at Gippal and noticed a pinkening to his cheeks, "Oh he did, did he?"

Baralai obviously didn't notice the embarrassment flooding his friend's cheeks, or if he did he chose to ignore it, "Oh yes. Nooj and I got tired of hearing about you after a while, although seeing you now I can certainly understand why Gippal was so crazy about you."

Gippal cleared his throat, "Um…how is Nooj?" he asked quickly, making it obvious to Rikku that he wanted to change the subject and fast. She made a mental note to ask him about these stories he told his friends later.

"He's fine." Baralai said, "We don't speak much anymore. He's fallen away from Yevon since his incident with Sin and…well…the incident with us as well. The last I saw him, he and LeBlanc were planning to start a rival government for Spira. He told me that Yevon was outdated and Spira needed to be ruled by a government that wasn't directly connected to a religion." Baralai shrugged and sighed, "It's a shame to see him going through this, but I suppose everyone has to find Yevon in their own time and their own way."

"Is that a hint?" asked Gippal dryly.

Baralai smiled, "You know how I feel and I know how you feel. I won't push. We all have our own decisions to make regarding religion."

"Religion is sorta what we came here to talk to you about." Rikku segwayed into their reasoning in a way she thought was quite beautiful.

Baralai smiled, "I'll be happy to answer anything that I can."

Rikku began her tale again, feeling much like she was having déjà vu. She'd already explained all of this to Maechen and gotten no results except a cryptic hint that he'd quickly forgotten all about. She hoped Baralai would be able to give them more.

The platinum blonde listened carefully to her descriptions and Gippal's additions to the scene. Lulu joined in with what Maechen had told them and Wakka remained generally silent except for a few grunts of approval to something one of his friends said.

When they were finished, Baralai slowly meandered over to an empty bench to the side of the temple and sat down, "Maechen was correct when he said that the Farplane shows visions of what those look like when they die."

"But Yunie didn't look like an old lady!"

"That's true." Baralai quieted, and put his chin in his palm. He looked up at Lulu and Wakka, "You knew Yuna's father, Lord Braska, correct?"

"We were children." Lulu pointed out, "He only visited Besaid once, but he was introduced to us."

Baralai continued, "Do you know of the rumor surrounding Lord Braska's guardian?"

"Sir Auron?" Wakka gasped, "I didn't know there was a rumor about him!"

Shaking his head, Baralai said, "There isn't. I'm referring to Lord Braska's other guardian, Sir Jecht."

"I don't remember hearing much about him." Said Lulu.

Baralai nodded, "Neither he nor Auron were ever seen again, but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about the rumor involving him and his origins."

"Didn't Braska get him in a bar or something?" Gippal asked suddenly, "I remember Cid telling me something about that and how mad he'd been that his own sister's husband would get a drunk to join him."

"Sir Jecht was in jail after public drunkenness, but I'm talking about him swearing he was taken by Sin to Spira from Zanarkand…"

"Why would he live in a ghost town?" Rikku asked.

"Not the Zanarkand we are familiar with," Baralai clarified, "The Zanarkand that never slept. The Zanarkand from the past."

Silence greeted Baralai's announcement and Rikku found the entire thing hard to comprehend. Even if this Jecht guy was from the real Zanarkand…what did this have to do with Yuna. She voiced her questions.

"It may have nothing to do with her at all, but I think it's worth considering." He admitted, "After all, if Jecht was telling the truth about Sin taking him to the future…wouldn't the opposite apply?"

"You think Sin took Yuna to the past?!" Wakka squealed, "How, ya? Why?"

Baralai shrugged, "I don't know if that's the case or not, but it makes some sense. If she's in the past, it would explain why she doesn't look like she died at 17. She wouldn't have."

Lulu muttered, "She would have kept living in the past and died naturally there…showing what she looks like at her death in the Farplane…"

"Precisely."

Rikku bit her lip, "Okay, let's say this is true. How do we make sure? And how do we get her back?"

"I'm not sure." Baralai replied.

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Yuna didn't quite know where to go now as she sat on the far end of his boathouse with her feet dangling in the water. She didn't want to go back to Auron's and deal with his 'I told you so' look and she couldn't go back into Tidus house without being thrown back out again. Her home she shared with Lenne was far too empty and depressing without the spunky songstress to brighten it up. All Yuna could do was sit around and wait for Sin. That was definitely something she never thought she'd do.

She was still reeling from her argument with Tidus. She had never expected him to accuse her of the things he had, especially when it was obvious that she hadn't done any of them.

She hadn't done anything. That was why he was angry. She had to keep reminding herself of that. Maybe if she'd made an attempt it would have been better. But there really wasn't much she could do while the guards were holding her back. There wasn't much she could do even if they hadn't been. Shuyin was already too far gone.

Yuna looked back over her shoulder toward Tidus' house. The main light in the living room was off but she could see the light from Tidus' bedroom down the hall glowing steadily. She could only imagine how he must be feeling. She'd experienced the loss of her father, but she'd known it and expected it. To lose his brother so horribly and right before his eyes…

Yuna wiped a stray tear from her cheek and stood up. She needed to make him understand that if she could have done something, she would have. She never would have just stood there and let Shuyin die.

The front door was still locked when she reached it. She hadn't really expected anything else. There had to be another way in. Yuna wasn't used to breaking and entering. She'd never done anything even slightly criminal in her entire life, but she figured if there was a reason to start, this would be it. Slowly and quietly, Yuna examined every window around the entire house to see if one was open or at least unlocked. To her surprise, Tidus' bedroom window was wide open. She peered inside. Tidus was lying on his back on the bed with his hands resting on his stomach. He looked like he was dead except for the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Yuna braced her foot on the trellis just outside and hoisted herself up as quietly as she could until she sat on the windowsill. Tidus didn't move. Yuna smiled to herself. This sneaking thing wasn't as difficult as she'd thought. She swung her left leg into the room first. Tidus still didn't move and Yuna looked at him more closely. He was asleep. She smiled again. This would be good. She could go over to him and hold him and when he woke up he'd be in a much better mood and they could talk about things rationally.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened.

When Yuna went to pull her right leg into the building, it caught on the windowsill and she found herself falling face first into the carpet, saved only by her hands which caught her fall. The thump she made as she landed on the ground ruined her plan of surprise when Tidus sat up suddenly and grabbed a blitzball award he had sitting on the table next to the bed.

"It's me!" Yuna called from the floor, raising her hands in defense as she slowly stood.

Tidus lowered the statue to the bed, but the angry look on his face remained, "I thought I told you to go away. I want to be alone right now."

"I know that, but I wanted to talk to you about everything. There are things you don't understand."

He trounced around and flung himself back down onto the bed, "I don't want to hear it, Yuna. Just go."

"Stop acting like a baby." She insisted, taking a few confident steps toward him until she circled the edge of the bed and was standing at his feet, "You need to listen to me."

"I don't need to do anything!" he snarled, forcing himself to sit up straight, "And obviously you didn't feel the need to do anything either!"

Yuna sighed, "That's what I need to talk to you about."

Tidus rolled his eyes, falling back onto the bed and pulling a pillow over his face. Yuna felt the urge to kick him. He was acting like such a baby. Why wouldn't the just listen to her? Angrily, she ripped the pillow from his face and flung it and the three others to the far end of the room. He gaped at her like he'd never seen her before and that gave her the courage to grab him by the shirt and pull with all her might until he sat up straight, "You're going to listen to me!" she shouted in his face, "You're going to listen and you're going to shut up while I talk!"

Tidus' eyes widened and Yuna felt as shocked as he looked. Where was this outspoken person coming from? The Yuna she'd always been was such a pushover and now she was standing up to everyone she knew. No matter. She figured that for right now it worked and there was no need to question it. Tidus nodded softly, "Okay…"

So she had his attention, that was good. But where to start? She paused for a moment as she took a seat next to him on the bed before she began, "As a summoner I had powers of cure and life and other important spells. These spells came in handy during my pilgrimage to help my guardians when they needed it and as I gained more aeons, I gained more spells and became more powerful."

"I know that." He smarted, "Lenne was a summoner."

Yuna shot him a warning look, "I know that, Tidus. But Lenne never obtained the Final Aeon and Lenne never fought Sin. If it had been me and you shot and Shuyin and Lenne finding us then Lenne could have saved us both, but the reverse just isn't true."

Tidus licked his lips and took a shaky breath, "Okay, I'll bite. Why is that?"

"I told you that when I fought Sin I had to sacrifice my aeons." Yuna explained. Tidus' eyes were getting wider as she spoke and she saw the sudden realization dawning on him, "Without my aeons, I have no powers. I'm not a summoner anymore."

Tidus turned his head away from her so quickly Yuna thought it would fall off. His breath started coming out in raspy, quick puffs and Yuna could see he was starting to panic a little. She touched his shoulder – the first contact she'd had with him in a romantic way since leaving Zanarkand to go after Shuyin and Lenne. He turned his head to her then, slowly, "I…I forgot about that…" he twisted around to her, his eyes tearing up. He touched her face softly, "I'm…" he closed his eyes and sighed dejectedly, "I'm such an idiot. All the things I said…I…"

"It's okay." Yuna replied, surprised to realize that it really was. She wasn't angry with him. She understood why he'd reacted like he had. She would have done the same thing. She voiced her feelings to him then and he gave her a weak smile to which she replied, "How's your knee?"

"It's fine. I think it just felt worse than it actually was. I can stand on it and bend it a little."

"I'm so glad. I was worried."

Tidus shook his head in incredulity, "You're amazing. I was such an ass…and you're okay with that. In fact, you're worrying about me." He ran his fingers along her jaw, "About what I said earlier…"

"It's okay." She repeated, "I know you didn't mean any of it."

"I did mean one thing."

Yuna bit her lip. She hoped with all her heart that the thing that he meant had been the one thing that made her heart skip a beat when he said it. She gave him a small smile, "What?"

"I love you…" he whispered with a grin, "I admit, I have a funny way of showing it…"

Yuna grinned broadly, "It'll be an interesting story to pass down." She decided, "And I love you too."

"Well of course you do." Tidus teased, "I'm a stud."

Yuna couldn't help but to smile at that. He was in a much better humor and she was so grateful for that. Impulsively, she kissed him. And he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her back. She let out a little moan and turned her head slightly as his mouth made its way down her neck.

"Yuna…" Tidus murmured, his mouth continuing its arousing assault on her senses. His breath against the skin of her neck in warm puffs was drugging. He moved his mouth back up her neck and across her jaw to her "I want you." He muttered against her mouth.

Yuna didn't quite know how to respond. No one had ever said that to her before, least of all someone who had just lost his brother and one of his best friends. She had heard of some people mourning by seeking comfort with someone else. That had to be what Tidus was doing. And there was nothing wrong with that. If she knew Shuyin and Lenne, they were probably sitting in the Farplane wondering what she was waiting for.

She loved this man.

She wanted this man.

What was there to wait for?

"I want you too." she replied softly as their lips touched again…