Even In Death

Akara Usagi

Chapter 2

Tidus held out his hand to Yuna as they crossed the path to the center of Zanarkand. Gracefully, she took his hand as he helped her over the rubble strewn across the path. She smiled, and looked at him. Her eyes caught his, and in that moment Yuna knew. She loved him; deeply and with all her heart. She jumped down from the obstacle and just held his hand, walking down a ruined path in peace, nothing on her mind except her newfound love for the mysterious man from a thousand years past. She remembered the sphere that she had recorded on the Mi'hen Highroad; the one that she would give to her guardians before she died. It was a keepsake, and a thank you to all of them for being her guardians. She could feel its weight become heavier in her sachel as a painful reminder of the events yet to transpire.

And there it was. The great Zanarkand Dome, once home to the greatest blitzball team to ever grace Spira- and the one Tidus was the captain of- the Zanarkand Abes. Tidus looked in shock and awe as he saw his stadium, reduced to rubble over a thousand years of erosion and destruction. He still couldn't believe that his great city was only a dream, and so was he. He looked around at the real Zanarkand, and yet he still saw his beloved city, shimmering with lights, people waiting in line to meet the players of the Zanarkand Abes. He shook his head back into the moment, and they pressed onward into the dome. Pyreflies of the dead swirled around, illuminating the dark corners of the otherwise dreary interior. Yuna looked around, watching them swirl past her, wondering if any of them belonged to her father. One of them slowed in front of her, and swirled around her.

"...Dad...?" she asked quietly, tears welling up into the corners of her eyes. With that, the pyrefly fluttered off in the distance with the others. She felt calm, as if her father was there with her. She knew now that she could go on.

"Yuna, it's time we moved on..." Lulu muttered as she bowed her head in sorrow.

"You're right. No point in avoiding the inevitable..." Yuna sighed. She pressed onward up a sloping stone path leading even further into the bowels of the dome. The darkness became more present as it engulfed the small corridors; pyreflies seemed to keep a distance from these hallways. Perhaps because of memories far too painful, or simple respect of the great lady Yunalesca that lay waiting for brave summoner's within the dome's center. It was she who would bestow upon Yuna the final aeon; she who would give Yuna a means to an end... for Sin, and for Yuna. A single tear slid down Yuna's pale cheek. This did not escape the sight of Tidus. His heart tore in two; seeing Yuna cry made him want to just take her in his arms and hold her tightly until all the hurt went away. He longed to make her happy, but he knew he couldn't. Soon she would be gone forever, and nothing could take that pain away. Wakka looked over at them, and he saw the sorrow that lay in both. He shook his head. "Why?" he thought to himself. "Why does it have to end this way?"

The hall ahead was dimly lit. After overcoming the trials, they walked into the center of a large room. Yuna shook. The last room they passed had the Lord Zaon sealed under the floor; glass placed carefully over his stone body. Lord Zaon was Lady Yunalesca's lover and best friend. He became an aeon to aid Yunalesca in her battle with Sin; but what noone knew was the importance of his aeon was far beyond a simple attack. He was the aeon that killed Sin, and in turn killed Yunalesca. This meant only one thing; that the final aeon was someone that the summoner chose. Only Tidus knew of this; he was too afraid to tell the other guardians. He especially didn't want to tell Yuna.

"May we rest; just for an hour or so? I just... I need time to say goodbye to everyone. The next room is where lady Yunalesca abides. I... this is my last real chance to say goodbye." Yuna asked. Her guardians nodded. They understood that saying goodbye would be hard, and that Yuna needed time to do it. She decided to talk to everyone individually; telling them how much they meant to her. She decided to start with Kimahri. From the Ronso tribe, he was bipedal, but covered in a beautiful coat of blue fur. His horn, though broken, was of ivory. He carried the staff of the ronso people; it served him well in battle. He had been with her since the start.

"Kimahri..." Yuna began. She gazed up into his fierce yellow eyes; her heart heavy with pain. She looked at the ground. Gently, Kimahri touched his paw to her chin and lifted her gaze up to meet his.

"Yuna no cry. Yuna be strong." he told her sternly but lovingly.

"Kimahri..." Yuna sobbed. She rushed forward into his open arms. "Kimahri... thank you. Thank you for being there when I needed you. You were there when my father died. You were there to take me to Besaid so I could live under the care of the temple. When I begged and cried for you to stay, you did. You stayed with me my whole life. You never left my side. Thank you Kimahri! Thank you for caring for me when my father died. He would have loved you..." Yuna cried, her tears absorbed by the deep cobalt coat of fur.

"Yuna no thank Kimahri. Kimahri must thank Yuna for showing him a better way. Fighting not always the answer to Ronso problems. Yuna teach Kimahri that." Kimahri smiled a rare smile as he let go of Yuna. His paws straightened Yuna up and held her to the ground. "Yuna has tough situation to go through. Kimahri trust Yuna. Kimahri love Yuna as though his own daughter. Kimahri is with Yuna always. Right here." Kimahri said tearfully as he patted his chest with a paw. Yuna stood straight and looked him in the eyes. His broken horn a sign of his bravery; even though he was smaller than other Ronso, he was by far the wisest. Silently, Yuna bowed in respect for the Ronso, and moved on to her next guardian, hoping that this would be easier than the last goodbye. She thought it would get easier. It would not...

She approached Wakka with a smile, hoping to hide the grimness in her heart. She sat in front of him; looking deep into his russet colored eyes. His titian hair rustling lightly in the drafty room.

"Wakka... hello... I-I just want to say thank you. You're like my big brother. You played with me all the time when we were younger. You're everlasting faith in Yevon will surely not escape Yevon himself's eyes. He will reward you; I know he will. Your prayers for a safe journey are what brought us here. That and the efforts from all of you. Thank you, Wakka." Yuna's eyes attempted to conceal the pain within, though Wakka knew how she felt.

"Yuna. It's no problem, ya? We all know that you're the one that's sacrificing her life for the well-being of Spira. We're just here to support you. No matter what happens, we all love you Yuna. No matter what, ya?" Wakka said, holding his ground, trying not to shake. His eyes concealed a well of tears behind them; choking them back. He held onto Yuna by her shoulders. "Yuna. You were born to do this. Your father would be proud of you. Go... go finish saying your goodbyes to your guardians." he smiled wanly. Yuna stepped back and looked at him gratefully. She nodded, and walked slowly over to Lulu. Lulu had been a childhood friend and caregiver to Yuna during her tough times at Besaid. She was like her sister.

"H-hi..." Yuna stuttered. She didn't want to look into Lulu's fiery ruby eyes. She'd never seen Lulu cry, and she didn't want to. Lulu held all of her emotions inside, so if she broke down, Yuna would too. Lulu gazed at her.

"Yuna, look at me." Yuna's gaze lifted to meet Lulu's. "Yuna. I've always been strong for you. I thought that if I didn't show sadness or pain, you wouldn't have to feel it. I was wrong. If I cry, it is because I love you. You are my sister, Yuna. If I cry, it means i'm human. It means i'm strong. Yuna, you will be missed by all." A single tear slipped out from Lulu's eyes and slid down her porcelain cheek. "Don't worry about any of us. Focus on yourself; your heart. That's whats important. You know you have to do this. There's no need to thank me, Yuna. I'm here because I chose to be. I'm here because I love you. I know how much I mean to you and how much you mean to me. Yuna, I understand. If there is anyone that you should really take your time to say goodbye to, it's him." Lulu lifted her arm and pointed her long index finger over at Tidus. Yuna was paralyzed.

"W-why would that be?" she mumbled.

"Because," Lulu stated matter-of-factly, "you love him." Lulu smiled. "Love is a wonderful thing Yuna. Chappu taught me that, just before Sin took his life. Cherish this time that you have left. Go to him and tell him Yuna..." Lulu smiled and turned away, walking over to Wakka. Yuna's eyes were filled with tears. One fell to the ground, and it's sound of it hitting the ground seemed to echo through the room, eminating sadness. Yuna looked around. Only three goodbyes left to go. Auron, Rikku, and Tidus. What would she say to her father's old guardian? Her cousin?

Her lover?