AN: The Thunder Plains: Dan dan dan… what will happen well lets read on and find out.

Review Corner:

Nighfire04: Ooo you ask questions my friend, questions that will be revealed. I'm glad you liked the last chappie it's where things have gotten interesting. Oh luving chappie 27 of Destinys Call. Hope this chappie was worth waiting for.

Zen, Seshay, Kinny and Bekayla: Are you sitting comfortably?

Me: Oh for Gods sake guys let's just go. (Nightfire looks at her as if to say 'you meanie'.) Oh come on you try putting up with them. Nah they're lovely really. Anyway as always review. :)

Chapter 9 Suspicions

"So Kinny you seemed pretty anxious to be outta there. What was that all about?" Zen asked as they started to make their way across The Thunder Plains. Seshay was clinging to the nearest person she could like a limpet which at this moment thankfully for Zen was Bekayla. Bekayla was trying desperately to calm Seshays wining and screams limited and was doing quite a good job. Arkinlae also looked at the sky from time to time. Anyone could see she was at least wary of the lightening but not scared.

"Tu oui naymmo haat du ycg Zen?" (Do you really need to ask Zen?) Bekayla said as a rhetorical question laughing.

"Yeah see what you mean." Came the reply. "I know I wanted to be rid of that blue shoopuf looking geek as soon as possible. I can't believe he asked Yuna to marry him outta all the cheek."

"Just cos he maester." Sesh whimpered joining the conversation to try and take her mind off the lightening.

"Exactly." Arkinlae finished, "There's something not right about all of this. I mean he's barely knows Yuna and out of blue he asks her. I mean she is the daughter of Lord Braska, but still, No one not even a maester or someone of high rank would be compelled to marry someone he barely knew. Even if he is using the excuse to make Spira happy. Seymour looks as if he couldn't care less about Spira's happiness. Something is probably up."

"Yeah I mean he's 'known' you for the same amount of time and you're pretty. Thankfully he doesn't seem to have taken a shine to you, but still you're a summoner so maybe its just Yuna he wants." Zen commented.

"Yes, but Yuna can be blinded by any person as long as it is in Spira's best interest. Someone could probably ask her to kill someone if it would make the rest of Spira happy. Seymour's acting is really bad I must say. He may fool most people, but not me. I should have told Yuna not to straight out and that something was up. It is in her best interest."

"Plus," continued Zen, "Someone else doesn't seem to pleased. Anyway we can't prove anything you can't just go and say 'by the way Yuna you can't marry Seymour because he's an evil axe wielding mad man' I mean he probably is but that's not the point. He laughed, "We'd have no proof though and anyway you've got most of the Yevonite population going to Guadosalam and Wakka so they would be there to dissuade her from our point of view anyway."

"Yeah." Arkinlae concurred, "I suppose." Arkinlae's mind then went back to what Zen had said before about her and Seymour, "You think I'm pretty?" she asked him. Zen looked at the ground and his cheeks burned, but thankfully didn't turn red.

"Well yeah you know you're a friend and you're pretty yeah you are." He replied in a friendly way.

"Oh," Arkinlae replied rather disappointedly she'd hoped Zen meant something different than just being pretty as a friend. Not that she wasn't grateful for him saying that, but just about everyone at Home thought she was the prettiest Al Bhed even if she did look different.

"Yep that oui our pretty friendly Kinny." Sesh piped up. Her initial fear of the lightening seemed to have gone. Arkinlae then started to look back at Guadosalam before carrying on walking.

"It's obvious what she'll say though." She said

"Yeah she always puts Spira's happiness before her own. It's stupid really. In the long run no one's going to thank her for it are they?" Zen said also trying to hint to Kinny. Arkinlae though did not reply, her mind had wandered again.

"Heh Guadosalam isn't the best thing against a lightening storm." She muttered to herself at the sky again, "Not that it mattered before."

"Huh?" Zen and Bekayla went, even Seshay was confused, but was to busy digging her nails into Bekayla's arm to make a noise.

"I can tell you quite a bit about that place," Arkinlae continued now putting her guardians into the conversation, "For instance when people first decided to make Guadosalam a home it was just a tree right. So to make it last longer as the tree was already pretty old they covered it all in metal. It also had quite a bit of the latest machina in it. People lived up higher than just the three levels, but something happened since then. Also judging from the echoes in that place, the whole tree must have rotted away over time."

"But it tree?" Seshay remarked

"Everything has it's own time, everything dies Sesh," Arkinlae remarked, "It was probably already over 500 yrs old when people made it a home anyway. You can't expect it to carry on for over a thousand years."

"It is pretty convincing though. I mean you'd believe it's a real tree. Probably because the metal's rusted" Said Zen

"To many memories…" Arkinlae then trailed off.

"Hey Agency!" Sesh shouted, "Can we stop please!"

"We might as well Kinny," Zen pointed out, "After all we're tired. You too by the looks of it." He then said when Arkinlae yawned.

"Okay then let's go." Arkinlae gave her permission.

"Yay!" Sesh cried and sprinted towards the Agency door.

"Drnaa nuusc bmayca." (Three rooms please.) Arkinlae said to the Al Bhed on the desk. Someone who had been standing by the computer came over behind the desk. He was very tanned and had long blonde hair down to the top of his shoulders.

"Tuh'd funno Helda E'mm caa du draca."(Don't worry Helda I'll see to these.)He then turned to Arkinlae, "One of those rooms is a double one right?" he asked smiling.

"Uncle Rin!" Arkinlae exclaimed throwing her arms around her uncle from in front of the desk, "What are you doing here?" she asked when she'd let him out of her embrace.

"I thought after you'd gone that I should spend more time with you and well I wanted to so I decided to follow you. I do have some business at the Macalania Agency though so I will have to leave you there."

"That will be fine. It's so good to see you."

"Well your rooms are sorted, you look bushed get some rest and I'll see you tomorrow."

The Gullwings all made their way to there rooms and made themselves at home. After Arkinlae had put some of her belongings in her rooms she went to see Seshay and ask her something. She was just at the door when she saw somethingand shouted out.

"Lord Jyscal!" she cried, "Yuna no don't send him!" she then shouted as if Yuna would be able to hear her.

It was Zen who opened the door in alarm and Arkinlae who had been leaning on the door fell towards him. He caught her in his arms.

"You alright?" he asked anxiously, "What was that about Lord Jyscal?"

"Zen we should have stayed with Yuna, now I know what I do I should have told her-." She almost whispered. She was about to carry on when she heard a voice. She knew who it was and she darted into Zen and Seshay's room and shut the door quietly. She pressed her ear to it to hear what the Guado was saying

"Did you hear that?" the voice said, "I know who that was, it was The Lady Arkinlae, she is here I was right. From the sounds of it she's heard about what I did to my father. We have to hurry after her even more now. If she knows what I've done she won't hesitate to spread it especially if she tells that blabbermouth blonde hedgehog looking freak, and that brother won't rest till he got something on me his friend the same. I know all Al Bhed are like that." His voice got fainter as he proceeded down the corridor. When Arkinlae finally reassured herself he was gone she decided to leave what she was going to ask Sesh.

"Whoever is up first wake Bekayla and Uncle Rin. I suggest we leave as soon as possible." Zen and Sesh had not heard Seymour in the corridor, as they couldn't understand why Arkinlae wanted to get away so quickly. Arkinlae knew now Seymour felt she knew too much, she didn't care what happened to her, but her friends would be in some danger, as Seymour hadn't sounded to pleased when he was talking to his guardians. Arkinlae crept along to her room. She was pretty sure he was no longer there, but knowing Seymour he might possibly be waiting round a corner for her. Thankfully thought this was not the case. She made her way into her room with no complications. Little did she know that other events would happen in this room soon after, events that would not entirely concern her. Feeling more secure at being in her room and taking her own advice she got into her bed and sank immediately into a heavy dreamless sleep.

She woke up the next morning with a start. She had to get the others up quickly before Seymour came. She gathered up what items she had and went out her room to wake the others. She went down the corridor towards Zen and Seshay's room. Bekayla's was not far from theirs so she could wake them up quickly. Suddenly Arkinlae heard footsteps' echoing down the corridor she wasn't sure which direction they were coming from, but it confirmed it was early. Normally there would be other noise to drown out the echoes, still that's not what Arkinlae was thinking of. One word flashed through her head the whole time. Seymour. The footsteps got louder and faster. Arkinlae didn't want to shout out in case it was he. She ran herself trying not to look behind her. One of the things she'd learnt from Zen was to never look back when you were running. Arkinlae couldn't explain why she was nervous. Maybe because she knew Seymour was powerful. Those with power use that power. Maesters have power. That was what she had heard in her head while she had been at the inn in Guadosalam. It was Auron who had said it and he was right. She carried on running the corridor heavy breathing now came with the footsteps. Arkinlae now felt she had to look back. She did so as she ran there was nothing there. Arkinlae thought it must still be a way behind but her being a slow runner it wouldn't be long before they caught up. Suddenly someone came round the corner. Arkinlae didn't see them as they came from in front. A hand grabbed Arkinlae and Arkinlae was about to scream when another hand went over her mouth. Arkinlae saw who it was.

"Fayth Kinny you wanna wake the whole Agency while you're at it?"

"Fayth's sake Zen you scared the living daylights out of me."

"Well I was trying to be quiet like you wanted. I know why we're going. It's Seymour isn't it? I saw him about an hour ago when I was going to tell Rin about leaving. I don't know why you want to Kinny I could take that pompous git out any day. Anyway he didn't see me he was to busy complaining as usual about how the rooms weren't fit for mice let alone Guado."

"Not our fault he fat." Sesh giggled.

Zen and Arkinlae had to stuff their hands into their mouths to stop them laughing out loud at that. Arkinlae then knew Bekayla was round the corner as she could hear him laughing through gritted teeth, which sounded more like whistling than a laugh. It was a common thing for Bekayla to do, so Arkinlae was not surprised.

"Come on, let's go and meet Uncle Rin." Arkinlae instructed.

When they got to the entrance of the Agency Rin saw them and nodded acknowledging their presence while seeing to another customer.

"Thank you sir. Enjoy your stay." Rin said before coming out behind the desk. "It is okay. The Maester hasn't come out at all. I suspect he doesn't want to come until he is ensured you make the first move. I suppose he thinks with you being Al Bhed you'd want your beauty sleep."

"I'm already beautiful enough so he needn't worry." Arkinlae laughed, "Still it's a good thing. Right are you packed Uncle Rin? Then let's go."

"Ohh why we had to leave?" Seshay moaned not long through the journey. Everyone rolled their eyes and groaned except Rin who was Seshay's latest 'cuddle blanket'. "Me rather face Seymour now." She continued.

"No you wouldn't unless you want to be bored to death." Zen said

"Or hurt." Arkinlae muttered.

"Oui clynat uv Seymour Kinny?" (You scared of Seymour Kinny?) Bekayla asked who had heard Arkinlae's last comment.

"Hud clynat vun sfcamv." (Not scared for myself.) She replied

"Vun Sesh yht Zen?"

"Yht oui." Arkinlae finished and from then most of the rest of the journey continued in silence. The rest of the journey Zen and Bekayla enjoyed practicing against fiends like Iron Giants and Larvas.

"Take that Seymour!" Zen cried as the Iron Giant blew into a cloud of pyreflies on his last blow. Arkinlae couldn't help laughing. "Don't worry Kinny if he comes along I'll protect us. He'll get what's coming to him."

Soon to Seshay's relief they came to Macalania Woods. Everyone stared at the sheer beauty and calm of the place. It was if it was a haven untouchable by Sin. This was one time where Kinny was not haunted by her memories. They started their walk through Macalania Woods it was quiet and peaceful unlike other places they had been to. There was a silence in the air that really didn't want to be broken and as the wind blew through the trees it sounded almost as if there were people singing or instruments playing. There seemed to be a distinct tune to it. However no wood came without its fiends. It seemed Sin had never been to this place or certainly never for a long time so the fiends seemed to be more concentrated in this area. Chimeras and elementals liked this area, but they didn't prove much of a problem to Kinny.

"This is why I became proprietor of Agencies." Rin said as Arkinlae defeated yet another round of elementals, "This part of life is to much for me. I heard people even chase fiends. You know go to areas where fiends are great in numbers."

"Crazy." Seshay declared.

"Maybe not." Arkinlae said. "I mean people might start to find life boring and maybe chasing fiends make their life more exciting."

Soon Rin hung back to talk to Arkinlae. Arkinlae was bathing in the calm of the woods.

"You know Kinny," her uncle began, "You don't have to do this. You could always quit your pilgrimage."

"No I can't do that." She replied

"Don't mind me asking, but why did you become a summoner? I mean it's not like an Al Bhed to become one." Why did he always have to sound so calm? Kinny thought almost angrily.

"Well…" Arkinlae's face fell she would never be able to face anyone to tell Zen, Bekayla and Rin the truth as to why she became a summoner. The whole truth.

"Well really it's a lot of things. Well one a pilgrimage gives me a chance to see the world, two if I am an Al Bhed then maybe it will make Yevonites maybe welcome us back into society more plus Sin took my father I want to avenge him for everyone."

"I just don't want you to have given up your whole life for this." Her uncle continued, "I wish I'd been there for you more Kinny." He hugged her.

"No Uncle Rin you have been there for me." Arkinlae explained, "I know I never got top marks in school or anything, in fact as far as Al Bhed and machina were concerned I was terrible, but knowing I had an Uncle who was out somewhere in Spira made me want to excel so that I might also get a chance to see it too. You have been there for me Uncle Rin."

"Aww you." Rin held her hand and gave it a squeeze, "It's gonna be different without you around. My visits to Bikanel won't be alive without my Kinny." He let go of her hand and turned away. It was obvious he was crying.

I'm so sorry Rin Arkinlae thought tears coming to her own eyes, This is for everyone else, Zen Sesh, Bekayla everyone they have their whole lives ahead of them.

"Hey look!" Sesh shouted about half an hour later pointed the trees were beginning to clear and snow was lining the path. "Macalania Agency here we come. Rest at last." She started to pant.

"Yeah whew I've fought enough fiends to last me a lifetime." Zen agreed, "Let anyone come against me now."

"Show off." Arkinlae and Rin chorused

"Hey I'm being serious." Zen laughed walking inside the Agency, "Anyway I think it's time we went and got ourselves some well deserved R&R."

"Amen to that." Sesh agreed and leant on Bekayla's shoulder.

There another chapter complete as always please review. Every little helps lol.

Well c u guys after another chappie. (Bows and curtains onstage close.)