Chapter 2- Recounting Events

It took me almost all night to get back to Zanarkand. I don't remember a whole lot about that journey. About all I do remember was how much I kept wanting that thing to come back and take me to wherever Jecht was. Shelfish, I know, but I didn't think I could live here without my best friend.

When I reached the sandy shoreline, the sun was just starting to rise. With the last bit of strength I posessed, I oulled myself up out of the water's reach. I layed there on that sand, letting the sun beat down upon my bare chest, for the better part of the day. When it was a few hours after noon, I got up again.

The sun had dried the water from me completely un the time that I had been out in it. Its rays had also turned my skin to a golden bronze color. My eyes hurt so much from its influence though. I had made a mental list of things that I would need to get on my way back to Zanarkand. I added a pair of sunglasses to it.

AS I walked on the path that would eventually return me to the city, I recieved many strenge looks. These looks multiplied as the population did. I guess most of them were regarding my apperance. My hair, which was usually in a neat braid at the back of my neck, was unbound and flowing freely across my bare chest. I received a few comments about putting my shirt back on as I neared the city, but I only smiled bitterly at them. I had abandoned my shirt long ago as I was swimming for shore in hopes that it would be easier to move.

When I reachedthe city, the first thingI did was head for my homeat the outskirts of what could still be considered living in the city. There, I grabbed a shirt that I had hardly ever worn and a red jacket that had belonged to my father. The shirt was black and sleeveless, with a small amount of metal armoring on the front and back. Originally, it had been designed for wearing while fencing. I hadn't fenced in years, but its purpose would serve me well enough for what I had in mind. The jacket was red and came down to the floor. With yellow trim and the high black collor, it was easy to see why my father had enjoyed wearing it so much.

Armed with these items, I went in search of the next thing on my list- sunglasses.

I found a nice pair at a street vendor's cart outside of the stadium. They were round, rimmed with silver, and small. They also fit into the pocket of my jacket, which is where they would stay if I had no use for them. I handed over 50 Gil for them, then pocketed my newest aquisition.

As I walked down the paths of the city, I kept coming up with different reasons as to why I shouldn't go tell Jecht's wife and Tidus about his fate. The fact that it was way too late kept coming back to me. The sun had already set by the time I had reached my home, so it was even later now.

When I found myself outside of their home though, I knew that it was time to stop making excuses and to do what needed to be done. Before I could lose my resolve, I walked up to the door and rang the bell.

Jecht's wife, Leila, appeared a moment later, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "I'm sorry if I woke you," I told her in an even tone.

"No, no. I wasn't sleeping. Jecht still hasn't come back yet and I'm worried about him. I can't sleep when I'm worried," Leila explained with a slight smile playing about her face.

I felt so awful doing this to her, but it had to be done. She had a rightto know what had happened to her husband. "That's actually why I'm here," I explained to her. "Do you mind if we go inside to talk?"

Leila moved out of the way of the door and led me into a small kitchen. There was a pot of coffee sitting there on the counter, and she poured some into a mug for herself before sitting down at the table. "Oh, I completely forgot to ask you," she said,"but would you like anything to drink?"

"No thanks," I answered from where I was leaning against the wall.

"So, you wanted to talk?" About Jecht?" she asked my hopefully.

Guard your emotions, I told myself. Taking a deep breath, I siad in a voice absent of all feeling and emotion, "Jecht is gone, probably dead. I'm sorry."

Leila gasped loudly, the cup she had been holding slid out of her grasp and fell to the floor where it shattered. "H...h...how?" she asked me eventully.

So, I proceeded to tell her about what had happened out there on the ocean yesterday. Leila took it hard, but seemed to remain in control. When my tale was finished and all of her questions answered to the best of my ability, the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizion again. "Do you want me to tell Tidus, or would you like to?" I asked her.

"I will," Leila told me firmly.

"Very well. I shall take my leave then."I walked back over to the door and opened it up. The sun's light reached my eyes and I held up a hand to shield them from it. That's when I remembered the sunglasses.

With my left hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled them out. Putting them on dampened the sun's light consideribly. Perfect, I told myself as I walked home